Greg Norman criticised by golf fans over "remarkable" PGA Tour claim

Former LIV Golf chief executive Greg Norman has got tongues wagging after making what some have considered a remarkable claim about the PGA Tour. 

Norman, now 70 years old, led the rise of the PIF-backed breakaway since its inauguration in 2022. 

He was instrumental in luring several PGA Tour winners, ageing Ryder Cup stars and major champions away from the established circuits with the promise of $25m purses and gargantuan signing-on fees. 

And he was involved in several heated exchanges with the likes of Rory McIlroy and his counterpart at the PGA Tour, Jay Monahan, during two years of unprecedented disruption in the elite men's game. 

Norman was replaced in the top job at the beginning of 2025 by former NFL executive Scott O'Neil. 

He remained with LIV Golf until his official departure was confirmed at the beginning of September. 

Four months after officially leaving LIV, Norman has had his say on his role in the hostilities between the tours. 

And he declared that he is "very loyal to the PGA Tour" despite what has transpired. 

"Believe it or not, I'm still loyal to the PGA Tour because of, I'm a lifetime member of the PGA Tour," he told The Big Swing with Jimmy Roberts.

"So this notion that I hate the PGA Tour is not true.

"The notion, the true factor is that I respect, I'm loyal, and I do, and I love the fact that I'm a lifetime member of the PGA Tour.

"I love the fact that I've helped the PGA Tour to some degree because of LIV elevated itself."

The comments were met by scepticism by some, given the two-time major champion tried and failed to start a global golf circuit in the 1990s. 

In the 1994, Norman tried to shake up the sport with his "Global Golf Tour," aiming to steal the spotlight from the PGA and European Tours.

He floated the idea of tournaments with massive prize money and a globe-trotting schedule, hoping the world's best golfers would jump ship. 

But it all went sideways.

Golf legends Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson were all against the idea and the general assumption is that Norman has been bitter ever since, hoping to enact his revenge. 

Before the interview concluded, Norman claimed that he finished what he set out to achieve by bringing free agency to the sport. 

"To be a free agent, to be able to have a choice about where you wanted to go, how you wanted to go, where you wanted to play, I think it was really important for me," he said. 

"I was an international player, played on the PGA Tour, loved every minute of it.

Norman gives opinion on Koepka

Brooks Koepka became the first major champion to quit LIV Golf on 23 December 2025. 

It has now been revealed Koepka applied to be reinstated on the North American circuit on the same day his departure from LIV was made official. 

Koepka was fast-tracked back onto the PGA Tour under a new scheme called the "returning members programme". 

His return came with a price, though some players aren't happy whatsoever. 

Koepka will tee up later this month at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. 

Norman said he was "surprised" with Koepka's decision. 

"I knew Brooks very well," he said. 

"I spent a lot of time with Brooks, understanding team value about in Smash and how to build it, and where to go. 

"Brooks was very engaged in how to build that value."

Norman also revealed details of a private conversation he had with the five-time major champion during his stint with the breakaway. 

Norman said he told Koepka: "Brooks, your priority is to be the best golfer you can possibly be. 

"You cannot run a team, you cannot be the best player in the world, winning major championships, you cannot do this, and this, and this.”

It appears the comment may have had an impact on Koepka's decision to re-join the PGA Tour. 

During his time with LIV, Koepka never appeared to be fully enamoured with the team concept. 

He did not wear Smash clothing and even called out former team-mate Matthew Wolff over an apparent lack of effort.