Greg Norman has aimed a dig at golf's 'monopolists', claiming the sport was 'stuck in a box for 53 years' prior to the emergence of LIV Golf. CEO Norman has been LIV's trailblazer following its recent rise in professional golf.
Norman's Saudi-backed circuit has rocked the boat following its emergence, having found themselves in a battle with their new-found rivals the PGA Tour. Throughout golf's civil war both sides have continued to take jabs at each other.
And heading into the breakaway circuit's second season, former world No. 1 Norman has not stopped with his digs, having once again taken aim at golf's traditionalists.
The main criticism surrounding LIV is its involvement and funding from the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, a nation criticised for its poor human rights record. Norman has defended the injection of Saudi riches into the circuit, claiming it was in fact the change the sport needed.
Claiming LIV's move to franchsing the sport - similar to the NFL in American Football and the IPL in cricket - the Australian told News Nation: "They see the value of what sport can be. One thing that people overlook here is this is the first time golf has had an incredible amount of equity invested into it.
"Why has golf been invested in? Because we are unlocking potential. What is that potential? The franchise model. The NFL model, the NBA model, the MLB model, the IPL model. All those things have never been done with golf.
Seemingly taking a jibe at his rivals at the PGA Tour, he went on: "Golf has been stuck in a box for 53 years. Now because we come along with a different format and have an investor putting equity in the game, people and the monopolist do not like it.
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"We have stood up and people are supporting us and we have made a huge impact in a short space of time." Following the astronomical funding, many have questioned the LIV business model, and its chances of being a profitable one.
As is often the case though, Norman was quick to hit back. When asked whether the Saudi-backed circuit was 'profitable', he responded: "Our tool wouldn’t be profitable? I think time will tell with that one. Our business model has been stress tested by the best institutions, the best economists. We have had thousands of individuals stripping down this model, and building this model to where it is today."
