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Greg Norman has given his most in-depth interview yet on LIV Golf’s plans for Australia, declaring that his home nation will “absolutely love” the product when it arrives next year.
Australia is in line to host a tournament as part of LIV Golf’s expanded 14-event schedule, bringing big American names such as Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau down under.
LIV Golf’s ongoing raid on the PGA Tour means that international stars Cameron Smith and Hideki Matsuyama are also widely expected to feature.
Speaking to foxsports.com.au last week, Norman said that he is relishing the opportunity to tap into the Australian market.
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“It’s a market that I think is being abused to some degree, and unused on many fronts,” Norman said.
“My goal is to be able to bring what I can to the Australian market for the Australian fan base who absolutely love LIV’s product. The Australian market would embrace us like no other.
“So we’re going to come to Australia some time in the near future — I can’t give you any timelines — and we will give our product to the Australian people.”
The where and when is yet to be decided, but Norman revealed that a team from LIV Golf has been on the ground in Australia since last week, scouting venues.
Australian Golf Digest has previously reported that a course in Sydney is in-line to host the event in April, most likely after the US Masters on April 6-9.
LIV Golf’s $US300 million ($A435m) partnership with the Asian Tour means more tournaments, involving some LIV players, could also take place in Australia next year outside of the main league event.
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Meanwhile, Australia’s traditional golf schedule is slowly bouncing back from the pandemic, but remains a fraction of what it was during its heyday in the 1990s and 2000s.
This year, an $A8 million, 16-event tour will start in October, increasing from 12 events in 2019-20.
It will feature the return of the Australian Open, which will see men’s and women’s fields play concurrently for $A1.7 million each, while the prize fund for the Australian PGA Championship has increased to $A2 million.
Crucially, big local stars are returning to play, including world No.2 Smith, major-winner Hannah Green, as well as Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert and Min Woo Lee.
Nonetheless, other big tournaments remain defunct, such as the Australian Masters, which was won by Tiger Woods in 2009.
Playing no small part in the diminished schedule was the PGA Tour’s decision in 2013 to move from a calendar season to a non-stop, wraparound schedule.
Given the greater purses involved on the PGA Tour, and the need to bank points in the lucrative FedEx Cup, the wraparound schedule disincentivised travel to Australia unless a big appearance fee was offered.
The PGA Tour will revert to a calendar schedule after the 2022-23 season as part of its response to the threat of LIV Golf.
But LIV is making its move on Australia now, feeling as if the door has been left open.
“Bringing the Presidents Cup (to Australia) once every four or six years, is that a great thing? Yes, it is. But is it consistently building on Australian values on a year-in, year-out basis, and supporting and growing the game in Australia? No, it’s not,” Norman said.
“To have a consistent opportunity to be able to come to Australia on a regular basis, to give the people of Australia, the sponsors in Australia, and the networks in Australia, the ability to showcase to the masses, is fantastic.
“I want to have the ability in the very near future to give the opportunity for the Australian people because it’s my home land. It’s golf. Aussies love golf. We are an outdoors nation.
“We see it, we recognise (Australia as part of the Asian market), and we’re going to be looking at it in the future.”
Pressed on the exact details for 2023, Norman said concrete plans are not yet in place as his team scouts multiple venues.
“I have a team down in Australia as we speak,” he said. “They’re there on the ground, assessing the best golf course, the best venue, infrastructure, and the support that we’re looking for.
“So we are actively on the ground in Australia as I speak.”
Norman was meant to travel to Australia with his team but had to back out due to other commitments.
Asked if he will be back in his home nation again soon, he said: “Yeah, of course I am.
“I wanted to be down there because I know every golf course … and I have a passion for my homeland.”
Norman is certain the Australian market will gravitate towards LIV Golf, although how it will be received remains unclear.
There’s no ignoring that the organisation is majority-funded by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, which has a shocking human rights record and has been accused of using LIV Golf to sportswash its image.
Even so, LIV Golf continues to grow by the month with more players making the jump for massive sign-on fees, while it could soon incorporate an all-Australian team with some of the nation’s biggest male stars.
Smith is said to be the frontman, while Leishman and Adam Scott have also been heavily-linked.
‘I’M A BIG SMITHY FAN’
Norman said that his dream for 2023 is to have a star-studded, all-Australian franchise in the mould of Stinger GC, which features South Africans Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Hennie Du Plessis.
Punch GC is already filled with four Australians, albeit lesser-known names Matt Jones, Wade Ormsby, Travis Smyth, Jed Morgan.
The mulleted, fan favourite Smith would be a massive weapon in LIV’s imminent push into Australia, which is playing an increasingly pivotal role in the success of the operation.
Norman said that he has long been in semi-regular contact with Smith, and was “extremely proud” of his victory at the 150th Open Championship.
Asked about Smith’s breakout season, which also saw him win the Players Championship and rise to world No.2, Norman said: “Oh look, phenomenal. I’m a big Smithy fan.
“We go back and forth, not on a regular basis, but on text I’ve spoken to him a couple of times after his successes.
“But I think he’s just quintessentially in the spirit of Australia, he’s passionate about Australia, he loves his golf, his timing is impeccable. And the way he handles himself in the media is very, very mature.
“So (I’m) very proud of him and hope he gets everything he wants out of life.”
Norman could not confirm if Smith would be joining LIV Golf, and didn’t reveal the full details of his message to his fellow Australian.
“It was just a congratulations message, (saying) ‘I’ve done it before, welcome to the club,’ Norman said, referring to his two Open wins in 1986 and 1993.
“I don’t need to go into my personal message with Cam. It was just one of those moments when I was extremely proud of him to be at the home of golf, the 150th (edition), to do what he did. It was such an impressive performance.”
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