Report: Greg Norman confirms LIV Golf approach for Hideki Matsuyama
LIV Golf Leauge chief executive Greg Norman has opened up on his pursuit of the Japanese PGA Tour superstar Hideki Matsuyama.
Greg Norman has confirmed LIV Golf have attempted to persuade Hideki Matsuyama to leave the PGA Tour.
The Japanese golfer has been struggling over the last few years with persistent niggling injuries, mainly to his back.
But Matsuyama appears to be back to his best after he stepped into the winner's circle once again at Tiger Woods' PGA Tour event.
Remarkably, his recent victory at the Genesis Invitational was his first top-10 finish in more than two years.
Matsuyama claimed the 2021 Masters and would understandably be a huge, huge coup for Norman and LIV Golf.
The figures are of course unsubstantiated but it has been speculated that Matsuyama turned down one of LIV's biggest offers to date.
That sum was estimated to be in the region of $400m and was reportedly on the table for Matsuyama in July 2022.
It was around the same time the aforementioned Woods, along with Rory McIlroy, organised a players' only meeting in Delaware.
The PGA Tour's biggest stars met with Woods and McIlroy and discussed a pathway forward for the established Tour in a period of crisis.
According to reports at the time, Matsuyama was torn between the money and legacy.
A number of players who were in that meeting, such as Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Joaquin Niemann, have since joined LIV.
Recently Rahm opened up a bit more about his decision to join LIV, claiming that Woods 'ghosted' him.
As for Matsuyama, two-time Open winner Norman has confirmed he has made contact with Matsuyama in the past.
He told Australian Golf Digest: "We've been trying to get Hideki Matsuyama. I don't mind admitting that.
"When Hideki won in LA, what's the first thing I did? I said, 'Congratulations, Hideki. I'm proud of you, mate.'"
Norman also revealed some surprising exchanges with McIlroy.
Both McIlroy and Norman have traded insults in public over the past 24 months.
At one stage, McIlroy claimed he made a private vow to be a pain in Norman's backside.
McIlroy's stance on LIV has changed significantly and Norman even praised the Northern Irishman's for falling on his sword.
He also told the publication that should McIlroy win the 2024 Masters he will show the Ulsterman 'some humility'.
"When Rory missed out on the [2011] Masters when he hit that wayward tee shot on 10, I sent him a message of support afterwards because I felt his pain, and he responded.
"And if Rory wins this year's Masters, I'll say congratulations on achieving the grand slam, right?
"That's sport and that’s sportsmanship, and that's the humility of the game. That's me. That's how I would do it."
Whether McIlroy goes on to achieve the career grand slam in April at Augusta National remains to be seen.
His former agent Chubby Chandler recently spoke to GolfMagic about the Northern Irishman's chances.
Which players were in the Delaware meeting?
- Tiger Woods
- Rory McIlroy
- Scottie Scheffler
- Patrick Cantlay
- Xander Schauffele
- Justin Thomas
- Jon Rahm
- Collin Morikawa
- Will Zalatoris
- Viktor Hovland
- Matthew Fitzpatrick
- Sam Burns
- Jordan Spieth
- Tony Finau
- Billy Horschel
- Cameron Young
- Joaquin Niemann
- Max Homa
- Shane Lowry
- Tyrrell Hatton
- Kevin Kisner
- Rickie Fowler
- Adam Scott
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