Report: Controversial LIV Golf figure back at The Open

LIV Golf commissioner Greg Norman has been in attendance at The Open, according to a report. 

The controversial figurehead was famously asked not to show up to the landmark 150th Open at St Andrews two years ago over his ties to the breakaway tour. 

R&A officials stated at the time they feared his attendance would be an unwelcome distraction and wanted to focus on the celebrations involving the milestone.

Norman had spent the months leading up to the major in a bitter war of words against the PGA Tour after LIV Golf arrived on the scene and banned their players. 

He also made what some observers viewed as a risible attempt to compete in the major once again as a past champion. 

Past champions can compete in The Open until they are 60 years old. 

Norman declined to attempt to qualify. 

Martin Slumbers, the chief executive of the governing body who will soon be leaving the role after nine years at the helm, previously said he hoped circumstances would allow Norman 'to be able to attend again in the future'. 

The R&A confirmed to bunkered earlier in the year they were unaware if Norman was planning to attend. 

"I don't think there's a G Norman on the list," Mike Woodcock, the R&A's director of corporate communications, previously said. 

"I think they [LIV] would have let me know if there was. So I'm not aware that he's bought a ticket so far.

"Obviously, there are tickets still available on the re-sale platform or hospitality. He's very welcome to look there."

Norman is here, according to Golf Digest's Evin Priest. 

The publication reported that Norman was extended all of the privileges a former champion can expect, such as hospitality. 

Norman told GD: "It's good to be back. 

"The Open has a lot of history for me. To me, it was the best championship of all. 

"The Masters is the Masters, but I put this one up above all four of them because it is a true open. People can come and play [qualify]. 

"I love the way they rotate the host course and it's links golf. In my professional career, I prided myself on coming back and playing the Open Championship."

Norman caused a stir in April when he turned up to the Masters Tournament. 

His son later claimed on social media that his father was forced to buy his own ticket. 

According to some reports, Norman was behaving strangely around Rory McIlroy. 

Over the past two years, the Aussie and the 35-year-old Northern Irishman have traded barbs in public. 

Once a staunch critic of LIV Golf, McIlroy called for Norman to 'exit stage left'. 

Now things are settling down somewhat and the PGA Tour is involved in talks with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia to reunify the game by combining their commercial interests. 

McIlroy's stance has also softened. 

Norman claimed two years ago there was a misinterpretation of what LIV were trying to achieve in the game. 

He added: "Everybody's seen that within the ecosystem, LIV Golf has been accepted and the players deserve to be in these big championships."

Over the weekend, there are a number of LIV players that Norman will be supporting. 

As many as 11 LIV players made the cut at Royal Troon. 

Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith were the biggest names who missed out. 

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