GREG NORMAN'S ADMISSION SPEAKS VOLUMES AFTER CLARIFYING £672M RORY MCILROY LIV GOLF TALKS

Greg Norman has told Rory McIlroy that he is ready “to sit down and have a conversation” about the world No.2 signing with LIV Golf.

The Aussie legend insisted the Ulsterman has never been made an offer to join the Saudi-backed breakaway league. Following a report after the Masters that he was tempted to join in a $850million (£672m) deal, McIlroy last week stated: “My future is here on the PGA Tour.”

Jon Rahm signed in December and getting McIlroy would be a massive boost for the Saudis during the ongoing negotiations with the PGA and DP World Tours about the future of the game.

The two Major winners have exchanged personal insults over the last two years with Norman claiming that McIlroy had been “brainwashed” by the PGA Tour while the Ulsterman accused the Aussie of being “condescending”.

But speaking before his home event at LIV Adelaide, LIV boss Norman admitted he is ready to talk to the four-time Major about joining. “LIV never put an offer to him,” he said. “We didn't need to make a comment about this. This is just typical white noise that gets out there in the industry.

“If Rory was willing to sit down and have a conversation with us, would we be happy to sit down with him? 100 per cent, no different than any other player who would be interested in coming on and playing with us.

“It's understanding the facts about what LIV represents and what LIV can deliver on a global basis. It's up to you to determine it. I've sat down with one top, top PGA TOUR player in his house with another member of my team, walking through the whole process, and he was so impressed. He said: ‘Well, that's not what we're told in the locker room. This is really impressive’.

“But he made the decision. He told me up two days later and said: ‘I've decided to stay where I'm at’. I said: ‘Happy days. You made a decision on fact. If you're happier over here, fine, stay there. The door is always open; if you want to come back and have a conversation with us, happy to do that’.”

A report by City AM last week claimed that “McIlroy is close to joining LIV Golf.” The four-time Major winner, who is set to return to the PGA Tour Policy Board after leaving last November, said: “I honestly don’t know how these things get started.

“I’ve never been offered a number from LIV, and I’ve never contemplated going to LIV. Again, I think I’ve made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think it’s something for me. Doesn’t mean I judge people that have gone and played over there.

"I think one of the things that I have realised over the past two years is that people can make their own decisions for whatever they think is best for themselves, and who are we to judge them for that. But personally for me, my future is here on the PGA Tour, and it’s never been any different.”

Norman, who attended the Masters, said he had no update on the ongoing negotiations between the PGA and DP World Tours and the Saudi Public Investment Fund. “I would love to give you insight but I don't have any,” he said. “We at LIV are totally separate to that part of the negotiation. We at LIV are a standalone company being invested by the same investor interested in the game of golf.”

Jon Rahm has said he would like to see LIV Golf events extended from 54 to 72 holes. Norman responded: “I think from LIV's perspective, we're very open-minded about it, but you've got to understand there's economic impact about putting television on for 72 holes.

"It's a great conversation to have. We will continue to have that conversation going forward.” McIlroy will partner Shane Lowry in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans starting on Thursday.

2024-04-24T10:34:21Z dg43tfdfdgfd