Greg Norman, the figurehead of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series, has defended the competition after widespread criticism from high-profile figures
, Norman said the decision was hypocritical given the tour’s own links with Saudi Arabia.
“Look, if they want to look at it in prism, then why does the PGA Tour have 23 sponsors within the PGA Tour doing 40-plus billion dollars worth of business with? Why is it OK for the sponsors? Why is it OK … that there’s a Saudi sponsor, Aramco, the largest sponsor of women’s golf in the world? Why is it OK for them? Why is it not OK for these players? Will [PGA Tour commissioner] Jay Monahan go to each and every one of those CEOs of the 23 companies that are investing into Saudi Arabia and...
“I saw the value and what golf can bring around the world,” he said. “So from there I said: ‘Yes, this is a great platform and it’s a commercial operation.’ We’re in it for a reason: to make golf and grow golf on a successful level and on behalf of the players – they’re independent contractors. Give them an opportunity to be able to expand their wealth at their choice.
After its opening event in London, the series moves to the US with tournaments in Portland and Bedminster. The Bedminster course is owned by Donald Trump,
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