Greg Norman, the former professional golfer, is the face of the Saudi-backed Liv Golf, which claims to host "golf, but louder."

Shannon Longworth Reporter

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman continues to defend Saudi-backed league

Aug 29, 2022

Shannon Longworth Reporter

Greg Norman, the Australian entrepreneur and former professional golfer, is now the CEO and commissioner of LIV Golf. As a professional golfer, Norman won more than 90 tournaments and two Open Championships.

In spite of those wins, he was not invited to the 2022 Open Championship, as criticism circulated around his new position with LIV Golf. The new league is financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

Critics are outraged, considering Saudi Arabia’s record of human rights violations.

Norman was asked about the criticism in an interview with Fox News.

“I don’t know,” Norman said. “I really don’t care, quite honestly. I just love the game of golf so much and I just want to grow the game of golf and we at LIV see that opportunity.”

The third LIV event of 2022 was held at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster.

On Norman’s website, he refers to the former president as a “close friend” and said he admired Trump’s politics.

SHANNON LONGWORTH: THIS AUSTRALIAN ENTREPRENEUR WAS ONCE THE BEST GOLFER IN THE WORLD.

HE’S WORTH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

HE’S FRIENDS WITH DONALD TRUMP.

AND NOW, HE’S THE CEO AND COMMISSIONER OF LIV GOLF.

GREG NORMAN IS JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY.

AS A PROFESSIONAL GOLFER, NORMAN WON MORE THAN 90 TOURNAMENTS AND TWO OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS.

IN SPITE OF THOSE WINS, HE WASN’T INVITED TO THE 2022 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, AS CRITICISM CIRCULATED AROUND HIS NEW POSITION WITH LIV GOLF.

THE NEW LEAGUE IS FINANCED BY SAUDI ARABIA’S PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND.

CRITICS ARE OUTRAGED, CONSIDERING SAUDI ARABIA’S RECORD OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.

NORMAN’S BEEN ASKED ABOUT ALL THIS CRITICISM. HIS RESPONSE?

NORMAN: “I DON’T KNOW. I REALLY DON’T CARE, QUITE HONESTLY. I JUST LOVE THE GAME OF GOLF SO MUCH AND I JUST WANT TO GROW THE GAME OF GOLF AND WE AT LIV SEE THAT OPPORTUNITY.”

LONGWORTH: THE THIRD LIV EVENT OF 2022 WAS HELD AT TRUMP NATIONAL GOLF CLUB BEDMINSTER.

ON NORMAN’S WEBSITE, HE REFERS TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT AS A “CLOSE FRIEND” AND SAYS HE ADMIRES TRUMP’S POLITICS.

BUT THERE’S MONEY IN THIS LEAGUE, AND NORMAN’S A BUSINESSMAN, WITH COMPANIES IN ALL DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES–RANGING FROM A DESIGN GROUP TO A CANNED COCKTAIL BRAND.

SO THAT’S GREG NORMAN: JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW.