Greg Norman on LIV Golf tenure: 'Don't judge me'

Greg Norman said he is proud of what he accomplished as the CEO of LIV Golf and that PGA Tour players have benefitted from the Saudi-backed league. Norman, who stepped down from LIV Golf last month, called his time with the league "mission accomplished" in an interview with Australian Golf Digest. "When you look back on the past 12 months, there's been a realization that all those investment dollars have done great things for the institutions as well as the players, in all parts of the world. Even with the PGA Tour (boosting its prize money with elevated events), I was quietly happy when I saw that, because the players benefited from it. "Are they going to recognize LIV for doing that? No, but I do know that was a significant uptick for them. For them to be able to play for more money, even play in less competitive fields – they reduced the size of the fields — I just said, 'Well, there you go.' The adoption, to some degree, of what we implemented has been accepted." Norman, 70, acknowledged the time commitment along with the intense criticism he endured as one of the primary faces of the breakaway league did take a toll. But he also said that he would do it all again "in a heartbeat." "It was very draining on me," he said. "I was working 100-hour weeks. I'm not going to say all the abuse was anything (of consequence), but what hurt me the most was the lack of understanding of why people would judge me and give the abuse they did. "That was the thing that bothered me the most, because I'm the type of guy who will happily sit down and talk about things. And if I'm wrong, I'll admit I'm wrong. But don't judge me. Don't judge what LIV was truly all about." Norman was the original CEO of LIV Golf when the league launched in 2021 and held the role until being replaced in January by Scott O'Neil, who serves as the commissioner. Norman stayed on in an unnamed position until his contract expired in August, according to Golf Digest. Norman's comments came during a significant news week during LIV Golf's offseason. Cleeks team captain Martin Kaymer said 'several' high profile players on the DP World Tour are interested in joining the league, while The Athletic reported that LIV's losses have hit $1.4 billion during the first three-plus years of its existence. Norman is now spending the majority of his time in Florida while refocusing his efforts on his golf course design business and a significant role on the organizing committee for the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane. "I'd do it a little differently. But, yes, I'd do it again in a heartbeat," Norman said when asked if he would put himself through the LIV Golf experience again. "Like anything, you look back at losing a golf tournament and ask yourself, Why did you lose that golf tournament? Did I hit a bad 5-iron? Or did I not concentrate? So, you sit back and you analyze it, and of course you would do that. And, like any CEO, you have to learn by your successes just as much as by your failures. "So, yes, absolutely I'd do it again." –Field Level Media

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