LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman Had Little Notice of Merger, Likely Won't Be Involved Going Forward

The Hall of Famer had been more of a figurehead in the Saudi-backed league's second season.

Greg Norman, the CEO and commissioner of the LIV Golf League, only learned of the merger with the PGA Tour a few minutes before it became public on Tuesday.

Yasir Al-Rumayyan, in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday morning as the news was being announced, said he reached out to the Hall of Famer prior to going on the air.

"I made a call just before this and of course he is a partner with us, and all the stakeholders that we have with us they had the call right before this interview," Al-Rumayyan said on CNBC.

The governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Al-Rumayyan appeared on the program along with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, who later sent a memo to players outlining the agreement.

All litigation between the parties will cease and LIV Golf’s 2023 schedule will continue. A separate for-profit entity will be set up with funding from the PIF and the team concept will be part of a new venture, although it is not clear in what form.

Al-Rumayyan, 53, is an avid golfer who is part of Mohammed bin Salman’s inner circle. MBS, as he is known, is Saudi’s Crown Prince. Rumayyan has been a significant part of LIV behind the scenes and Norman was hired in the summer of 2021 to be the CEO of LIV Golf Investments as well as commissioner of the LIV Golf League.

Norman did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. But a source told Sports Illustrated that his duties of late have been more as a "figurehead" and that he was not expected to be part of the venture going forward. Norman’s name was not mentioned in the announcement.