Greg Norman hits back at latest 'disgusting' criticism of big-name LIV Golf players

Greg Norman thinks the criticism some of his biggest LIV Golf stars have faced following their shock moves away from the PGA Tour in recent years has been nothing short of 'disgusting'. 

LIV Golf CEO Norman, 69, made his feelings be known in an interview with Bloomberg.

The Australian's comments come with just a handful of LIV Golf League events remaining on the 2024 schedule. 

While Norman is delighted with the progress the breakaway Saudi golf league has made over the past three years, he is 'disgusted' at the 'vitriol and hatred' the likes of Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith all received when they joined LIV Golf in the first year. 

Criticism has been rife among a large number of fans, PGA Tour players such as Rory McIlroy and even leading analysts such as Golf Channel's Brandel Chamblee ever since LIV Golf's inauguration in the summer of 2022. 

However, even both McIlroy and Chamblee appear to have eased in their bashing of LIV Golf in recent months, especially with a potential PGA Tour-PIF deal on the horizon. 

The likes of Johnson, Smith, DeChambeau and Koepka all joined on multi-year deals back in 2022 in the region of $125m and $175m each. 

Jon Rahm then became the superstar signing for LIV Golf at the end of 2023 in a five-year deal worth a reported $600m.

Norman considers the criticism each of his biggest stars have faced in recent years is beyond a joke. 

Scroll below for Norman's latest comments

"I compliment the boys who came over, the first movers," Norman told Bloomberg.

"They came on with massive amounts of headwind. 

"The vitriol and hatred was just disgusting to be quite honest with you. Considering what these guys have done for the game of golf.

"How they have carried the game of golf, and the institutions they represented. It was disgusting.” 

There is a great deal of anticipation that the PGA Tour will soon sign off its framework agreement with LIV Golf's bankrollers, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF,  before the end of the 2024 season.

Should a commercial deal be struck between both parties, there is hope by many it will lead to unification in the pro game once more.

On the topic of LIV Golf, England's Richard Bland has sealed back-to-back senior majors following a playoff victory at the US Senior Open.

Bland, who also won the Senior PGA last month, defeated Japan's Hiroyuki Fujita in extra holes in a Monday finish at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island.