LIV Golf star reacts to rumour of Greg Norman's demise: "He's sacrificed a lot"

Marc Leishman says he hopes Greg Norman stays with LIV Golf 'in some way' after he 'put his a--' on the line to get the breakaway tour started. 

Norman's time as LIV Golf commissioner is reportedly up. 

It is understood Scott O'Neil will be announced as Norman's replacement as early as next week. 

O'Neil has a wealth of experience and is currently the chief executive of Merlin Entertainments. 

Leishman told reporters after the first round of the Australian Open that he hopes Norman sticks around in some capacity. 

"I think he did a really good job," Leishman said. 

"I have no idea though [if the report is true]. It's not that I don't keep up with it, it's just that they operate the business, and I play golf, which is probably the way I like to be honest.

"The players have benefitted from it whether you're on LIV or you're not on LIV. He put his a-- on the line to get this started.

"Love him or hate him, as a golfer, he's certainly helped our lifestyle."

A previous report from SBJ suggested that Norman was going to be 'moved upstairs' into a senior role. 

Leishman reckons that is likely to happen. 

"He's worked really hard, really given a few years of his life," he said. "We don't know how many years that is.

"I would hate to think how many hours he works a week and how many hours he flies. 

"LIV has been going for two and a half years, but how long he's been doing it before that, who knows.

"He's sacrificed a lot. Obviously, he's got pretty well compensated as well, but I hope he stays involved in some way."

Leishman's LIV teammate, Lucas Herbert, also offered some thoughts on the latest news. 

Herbert took the early lead at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne. 

Herbert said: "I would imagine that Greg will be involved with LIV for a long time. In what role, I don't know.

"I don't really spend my off-season sending texts around asking for gossip about whether Greg’s going to be a CEO or commissioner or whatever other role.

"He'll be there somewhere. I just don't know in what capacity."

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