Greg Norman believes LIV Golf rebels "belong" in the sport after Brooks Koepka won this year's US PGA Championship at Oak Hill in Pittsford, New York on Sunday.
Koepka became the first LIV golfer to win a major after holding off Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland to claim his third US PGA Championship title and fifth major. The 33-year-old winner finished on nine under par, two shots ahead of Scheffler and Hovland.
Koepka's triumph is a huge victory for LIV Golf, which continues to divide the sport. The breakaway tour is bankrolled by Saudi Arabia and has persuaded some of golf's biggest stars - including Koepka - to ditch the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
Norman, who won the Open twice during his career, is the CEO of LIV Golf and has congratulated Koepka on his victory. He's also revelled in the success of LIV Golf. He tweeted: "Congrats Brooks, your comeback has been impressive. I am so proud of you.
"As for the LIV Golf players, they belong and the majors and golf knows it. Three LIV golfers in the top 10 [of the US PGA], five in the top 20, 11 made the cut."
Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith were among the LIV golfers to finish in the top 10. DeChambeau, who won the US Open three years ago and was booed at Oak Hill over the weekend, believes Koepka's victory is an important moment for LIV Golf.
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The 29-year-old American told reporters: "It validates everything we've said from the beginning: That we're competing at the highest level and we have the ability to win major championships.
"I really hope people can see the light now that we're trying to provide the game of golf with something new and fresh. I think at the end of the day, both sides are going to have to come together at some point. It's for the good of the game."
Yet LIV Golf has a long way to go before it silences its critics. The tour has divided opinion due to its huge prize funds and links to the Saudi regime, which has a poor human rights record. There are doubts over whether LIV golfers will play in this year's Ryder Cup.
LIV Golf has already attracted some of the biggest names in golf, including Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Phil Mickleson, Henrik Stenson and Dustin Johnson. Koepka was not interested in discussing LIV Golf after lifting the Wanamaker trophy for the third time.
He told reporters: "I definitely think it helps LIV, but I'm more interested in my own self right now, to be honest with you. Yeah, it's a huge thing for LIV, but at the same time I'm out here competing as an individual at the PGA Championship.
"I'm just happy to take this home for the third time. I think I was the first guy to win two LIV events. To win a major is always a big deal no matter where you're playing. All it does, I just think, I guess, validates it for myself."
