Greg Norman has revealed that Phil Mickelson was among the players who reached out to thank him for his efforts after the Australian was ushered out as CEO of LIV Golf.
Norman was the driving force behind the creation of the breakaway league, luring top stars like six-time major champion Mickelson to turn their backs on the PGA Tour and join the Saudi Arabia-bankrolled circuit in 2022.
Two-time major champion Norman became golf’s most divisive figure as a result of the breakaway, leaving fractures in the sport that have yet to be healed. He would be removed from his post as CEO in January as the league hired a more statesmanlike leader in Scott O’Neil.
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Norman remained affiliated with LIV until September, when he announced his departure, and he has spoken publicly on his exit for the first time in an interview with Australian Golf Digest.
Norman says Mickelson, Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood were among the players to show their appreciation to the 70-year-old after his association with LIV came to an end.
“There were certain players that really came up to me and there were a few others that came up to me and just thanked me for what I did for them, for being the tip of the spear, for taking it all on,” says Norman.
“Phil took [plenty of heat] too, but I took it on behalf of all the guys, so that to me was part of the job – I had to do it, right? And if you’re going to make meaningful change, running through a brick wall without getting bloody, that’s not going to happen.
“So, the guys did reach out to me – not all of them, no – but probably Phil was the one who really was very open about it and appreciative of what I did do. Poults was the same, along with Westy.”
In the interview, Norman said his three years as LIV’s commissioner and CEO took a significant toll on him. “I enjoyed my time at LIV. But I’ll be honest with you, it was hard,” he said.
“It was very draining on me. 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.”
Reflecting on his tenure, Norman dubbed it “mission accomplished,” citing increased purses for players across the sport and securing LIV’s place in the professional golf ecosystem despite “headwinds” and “misperceptions.”
