Replacing Greg Norman Won’t Solve LIV Golf’s Issues
The LIV Golf Series, which is supported by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, has Mark King, a former CEO of TaylorMade and current CEO of Taco Bell, as its top contender to succeed Greg Norman, according to a report on Thursday in The Telegraph.
Replacing Greg Norman Won’t Solve LIV Golf’s Issues
Sports Illustrated said that LIV disputed the report just hours later. For the time being, LIV Golf has no plans to appoint a new CEO to succeed Greg Norman. On Thursday night, the contentious Saudi Arabian-backed golf league denied rumours that Mark King, the current Taco Bell CEO and former CEO of TaylorMade, will take over for Norman.
LIV Golf Denies Report It’s Replacing Greg Norman With Taco Bell CEO – https://t.co/EkdWC16qfS via @FOS
— Michael McCarthy (@MMcCarthyREV) November 11, 2022
“Our CEO and Commissioner is Greg Norman. Any suggestion that changes are being made to Greg’s title or role is patently false,” said Majed Al-Sorour, LIV’s managing director, in a statement as reported by SI.
Cameron Smith on his LIV decision
“I have absolutely got no regrets. At the start it was definitely scary making a career move like that, it being a fresh tour. I think the fans love it a lot which is really important for our sport because it gets a lot of people playing golf.”
— LIV Golf Latest (@LIVGolfLatest) November 12, 2022
A change in LIV’s management won’t just include removing a divisive personality who is motivated by a personal grudge against the PGA Tour and is despised by many elite players, including ones he has fondled with MBS’s money. Swapping out the Shark would imply Saudi Arabia’s new face-saving plan, short-term desperation rather than long-term resolve. Additionally, it would be LIV’s last option before having to admit that the real issue isn’t with the ship’s captain.
#BREAKING: Adelaide will play host to the controversial LIV Golf tour in April next year, with Greg Norman to jet into the state next week to make an official announcement. #9News pic.twitter.com/j2LZqYpiqa
— 9News Adelaide (@9NewsAdel) November 11, 2022
The PGA Tour has offered its devotees the premium tournaments, larger prize pools, and higher bonuses they sought, but LIV has only given its recruits the cash they were promised.
Amid rumors, LIV Golf insists that Greg Norman remains with the organization.
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) November 11, 2022
Rumblings of discontent among LIV players and rumours of cutting back on the extravagant benefits once given to their entourages have been heard recently. More concerning for Norman—or the unfortunate executive who succeeds him—are rumblings that the one query LIV cannot satisfactorily address, where is the return on investment, is about to come to a head.
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