Greg Norman issues direct message to his LIV Golf replacement

Former LIV Golf boss Greg Norman says the league's survival will "totally depend" on whether his replacement can convince investors to part with their cash.

Norman was appointed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) in October 2021 to lead and build the breakaway tour. 

The Australian was instrumental in recruiting several major champions and PGA Tour winners to LIV Golf, who were enticed by $20m prize purses and significant signing-on fees.

He became a central figure in golf's so-called "civil war", publicly trading insults with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Jay Monahan, his then counterpart at the PGA Tour. 

But he was replaced by American sports executive Scott O'Neil in January 2025. 

Reports last week suggested PIF is set to pull its financial support for LIV when their fourth season concludes in August.

Norman joined Dan Rapaport of Skratch to discuss the rumours. 

Aside from expressing regret over how he handled his interactions with the aforementioned McIlroy at the height of the disruption in the elite men's game, Norman implored O'Neil to "get out there" to try and attract some potential investors to keep the lights on. 

"That'll totally depend on Scott O'Neil," Norman said when asked if LIV can go on without the PIF. 

"I read his comments: 'We gotta go raise money ourselves, LIV has to do that.' 

"Basically, he's got to get out there on the street now, and he's gotta do a roadshow, and he's gotta see if he can dilute some of the PIF funding down to somewhere else. 

"Getting a U.S. financial institution coming in would be very advantageous. No different from what's happened with the SSG and PGA Tour."

Norman added that it blew his mind that the league failed to gain traction in the United States.

"LIV is really much beyond a start-up," he said. "Start-up we were, yes, for maybe two going into three years. 

"But when we had that foundation of stability underneath us, especially on the global front, we knew we had something that was working

"Here in the United States, it was not working as well as we hoped it would because there was a lot of blowback. 

"In the very beginning, we couldn't even get vendors to sign with us. We couldn’t get anybody to come and do anything in the United States. It was 100 per cent radioactive.

"It just blew my mind, because when we went to Australia or other places around the world, we were received with open arms. 

"We'd have an economic impact on Adelaide to the tune of nearly nine figures for a three-day event. 

"Other people around the world saw that, felt that, realized that, and understood that."

Bryson DeChambeau breaks silence on LIV future

Elsewhere, two-time U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau has committed to staying with LIV Golf despite speculation about the tour's finances. 

DeChambeau's contract expires at the end of the season.

The 32-year-old is one of the biggest draws in golf, thanks to his box-office performances in the major championships in recent years and his popularity on social media. 

He allegedly wants $500m to stay with LIV but in recent weeks appears to be agitated.

Last week, he fumed at the playing conditions at their tournament in Mexico and withdrew ahead of the final round. 

But he has since told Flushing It: "As long as LIV is here, I would figure out a way for it to make sense.

"We're still working on a potential contract. I haven't given up on that and I think there will be a solution. But as of right now, my job is to help make the league work after this year.

"I just feel like I have a responsibility. I've put a lot of effort into it. So that's what I'm going to do - we're going to make this work.

"It's a start-up, right? And so there's going to be times where we're squeezed and punched. This is one of those moments.

"But I'm going to do everything in my power to make it work and I really see the value in franchise golf."