To read holier than thou commentators, including the mostly underachieving PGA Tour Radio ankle bitters and The Golf Channel less than stellar crew, disparaging Greg Norman, and his new position as CEO of LIV Golf investments, is laughable and hypocritical at best.
Sure, for people like me, golf is just a game, but for people like Norman, it is also a business.
Norman will be the commissioner of a new golf league, funded by Saudi Arabia, and with emphasis on the Asian Tour. By attaching this league to the Asian Tour, players who wish to play on it will be able to gain world rankings. If that is the case, well, that is a smart move.
Greg Norman attempted something similar back in the mid 90’s, but was blocked by the PGA Tour, and the idea never flourished. This time it appears Norman’s chances are much better, and with a $200 million dollar investment, there’s money to be made.
Of course, the media is having a field day and jumping on Norman and anybody who even dares to approve of such an idea.
USA Today writer, Dan Wolken, suggests players must decide between the money and morals. Is this guy serious?
He forgot how the PGA Tour saved an honorary tee time for crackhead, convicted felon, and women’s abuser, George Floyd, at the Charles Schwab Challenge in June 2020.
Spare me the morality Dan. Wolken is nothing more than your typical USA Today leftwing writer. Not much substance, little facts, and tons of nonsense.
You can read Wolken’s opinion piece below.
Wolken: When it comes to Saudi Arabia-backed golf league, players must decide between money and morals
PGA Tour Commissioner, Jay Monahan, has said any player who joins this endeavor will lose their PGA membership. Well, I am not sure is that easy Jay.
I guess the PGA Tour is ready to spend lots of money on legal fees and high power attorneys.
Typical Jay Monahan, he sounds more like a mafia boss than the PGA Tour commissioner. He was quoted as saying, “anybody who joins a breakaway tour would be suspended and likely barred from playing the PGA Tour.”
What’s Jay afraid of? Let the free market speak Jay, that is the American way.
I am happy to see a viable alternative to a PGA Tour that has become, political, preachy, woke, and anti-free market. I do not watch PGA Tour events other than the four Major Championships, and even then, I do not get out of my way to do so.
I applaud Greg Norman for having the guts to go against the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour lapdog, the European Tour. These organizations have monopolized the golf industry while at the same time preaching phony equality and inclusiveness.
As to the government of Saudi Arabia’s involvement? This is not news. They are host to the Saudi International, an Asian Tour event and only professional golf tournament played in the Kingdom.
Furthermore, Jack Nicklaus announced he will be designing a new golf course in Saudi Arabia, outside Riyadh. Is the PGA Tour going to shun Jack Nicklaus for his business enterprise with Saudi Arabia? I think not.
The PGA Tour, and all the golf governing bodies, wanted golf to be a more inclusive and a more global sport, well, they succeeded, and Greg Norman is taking full advantage of it.
The only controversy here is the one created by the mafia bosses at PGA Tour headquarters. The PGA Tour is damaged goods, morally and ideologically.