Former PGA Tour boss on LIV Golf's Greg Norman: "I think he got that wrong"
Former PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman has revealed what he thinks LIV Golf boss Greg Norman 'got wrong' over the last few years.
Former PGA Tour boss Deane Beman has revealed what he thinks LIV Golf commissioner Greg Norman 'got wrong' over the last few years.
Beman told Sports Illustrated's Bob Harig he believes the two-time Open champion sold the breakaway tour players 'a bill of goods'.
The 86-year-old, who served as commissioner between 1974 and 1994, claimed Norman also sold the rebel players on the fact he thought they could 'defeat the Tour in the regulation of conflicting events'.
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"I haven't been there at the core of it to understand all that is going on now," he told the publication.
"But from the outside, it would appear to me that Greg sold them a bill of goods.
"Sold them on the fact that if he got a certain number of prominent players, that he wouldn't be investing billions a year with no sign that they can even break even.
"I think he sold them on the face that the players who went there could defeat the Tour in the regulation of conflicting events. I think he got that wrong."
He added: "And I think he got it wrong that the superstars in his mind would control everything.
"The realities are that someone like Jack in his heyday was the best player in the world and played as few tournaments as he could and the Tour was still successful without him. It's the same with Tiger.
"It's the organization and the volunteers and the events themselves and the ability to attract corporate sponsors who put up the money to make it all work.
"And they get great value for that. It's not Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods even though we love to have them."
Beman's comments come as the PGA Tour continues to negotiate with LIV Golf's backers, the PIF of Saudi Arabia, to ratify last June's framework agreement.
The initial agreement, which also involves the DP World Tour, was supposed to be finalised by the end of 2023.
The delay, in part, is due to regulatory concerns with the U.S. Department of Justice.
It's also clear there are players on both sides may not actually want a deal.
Rory McIlroy hinted an agreement could come to pass before the end of 2024.
But those in the corridors of power have distanced themselves from having any kind of deadline.
Recent signs, such as PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan meeting with PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, suggests progress is being made.
Beman told SI he hopes the PGA Tour and LIV find a way of co-existing.
But both sides need to come out feeling as though they have won, he said.
"In any kind of business deal that I made for the Tour, I always felt the best deal was where both sides won and there was not a winner and a loser," he said.
"So I think that finding a way where both sides can win is important."
You can read the full interview SI here.
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