Norman’s LIV women's claim at odds with Karrie
The ‘Great White Shark’ spoke of his history supporting golf in Australia and legacy throughout a lengthy press conference that got momentarily heated when he was questioned as to if he had ever discussed human rights with Mohammed bin Salman the senior leadership of the Public Investment Fund.
“No, I have not,” was the quick reply from the otherwise vociferous Norman.
Adding when pushed as to why: “Because I'm the chairman and CEO of LIV Golf Investments, and that's where I focus. I focus on golf. I stay focused on golf. My job is to build out LIV and the product we have on a global front.
“Golf is a force for good. I've been involved with golf, like I said, as a player, as well as golf course design. I've built some golf courses in third-world countries. I've built golf courses in Communist countries. Golf is a force for good. It goes everywhere with the right platform because it delivers the right message, from education to hospitality to employment to tourism. Everywhere you go, golf is a force for good.”
Speaking on the expansion of LIV Golf around Australia, a topic that has been regularly rumoured throughout the lead up to the new circuit’s debut in this country, Norman was keen instead to focus on the “next 72 hours” in Adelaide.
RIGHT: Karrie Webb has strong opinions on LIV Golf that suggest the support for a women's version might not be as strong as Norman suggests. PHOTO: Aaron Gilbert/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.
However, the former World No.1 was in a more talkative mood on the topic of a LIV Golf women’s league as a future prospect.
“That is a discussion we have internally on a regular basis. I have personally had discussions with individual LPGA Tour players, LET Tour players. They love what our product is showcasing. They ask all the time, how can we get involved, we'd love to see a LIV ladies series,” Norman said.
“From our perspective – last year was a beta season. We had eight events. This year was our first season where we're kicking off. We can only drink out of a fire hydrant so much, so we have a lot of opportunities and initiatives coming across our plate. Our focus is to make sure this year we produce what we're producing here from day one, 2023, and then going forward we're looking what are the best opportunities to build on to what we have today.
“The answer to the question is yes, we talk about it internally, and I have had discussions with individual lady players, professional players.”
The positive reception to such a concept is in stark contrast to that of Australia’s greatest ever female player Karrie Webb.
Just a few hours earlier, the seven-time major winner appeared on the Good-Good Golf Podcast (LISTEN HERE) to discuss this week’s Chevron Championship. A major that is unfortunately receiving less attention than it deserves with LIV’s most successful event to date taking place on the other side of the world.
When the topic of LIV was broached, Webb’s answer to host Rod Morri’s question of what her response would be if offered a hypothetical $100 million to be part of a LIV Golf women’s league.
“No,” Webb said. “I think I’m comfortable enough financially that I couldn’t take that money and go to Saudi Arabia and look any woman in the eye and feel comfortable with myself for doing it.
“As a woman I couldn’t do it. But I do understand that there are girls that are not in the financial position I am that they can’t not play in those events (Aramco Series) even if they are conflicted the way I would be.
“I think I’m comfortable enough financially that I couldn’t take that money and go to Saudi Arabia and look any woman in the eye and feel comfortable with myself for doing it." - Karrie Webb.
“I worry about this generation of athletes, not just golfers, it is more about the money than anything. I do worry about the LPGA and its place in golf.
"I do worry that if a LIV type Tour were to aggressively pursue women’s golf the way they did men’s golf, the LPGA wouldn’t have that $300 or $500 million slush fund that we can draw upon to increase our purses overnight and change the way our business is done.
“That really does concern me.”
Whether a LIV Golf women’s league does eventuate and Webb’s fears for the LPGA Tour come to pass remains to be seen. But just like everything with LIV Golf, it certainly won’t be as straightforward as Norman suggests.
