R&A boss teases LIV Golf decision as he opens up on Greg Norman's snub

Martin Slumbers, the chief executive of the R&A, says there will be a decision over how the major plans to proceed with LIV Golf in early 2023.  

In a wide-ranging interview with John Huggan of GolfDigest, Slumbers has opened up on a number of topics. 

Chief of which is how the major plans to deal with participants in The Open Championship who play in LIV Golf Tour events and the qualifying process.

Related: R&A reacts to Donald Trump Turnberry claims

Slumbers said he looks forward to seeing Cameron Smith - who moaned about Phil Mickelson's slow play in Miami - return to defend his title. 

As for how the governing body will proceed, Slumbers said you only have to go back to what he said in July. 

Back then, Slumbers backed up Tiger Woods' claims about LIV, saying that he did not believe the breakaway tour was credible. 

This was after the news broke that LIV chief Greg Norman wasn't invited to the past champions' dinner. 

Related: Nine players who changed their mind about LIV Golf

It was a decision that clearly didn't sit well with Norman, who also wanted to participate in the landmark major even at the age of 67. 

The R&A said no. And Slumbers claimed to Huggan that he believed the only reason Norman wanted to be there was to create noise. 

In Slumbers' opinion, he believes The Open needs to be "distinct from that". "From my perspective, I had a deep responsibility to our sport," he said. 

Of the LIV Golf decision, Slumbers told the publication:

Of the decision not to allow Norman to break bread with his fellow past champions, he said: 

He added: 

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