Norman pledges to stand firm with LIV Golf despite criticism from McIlroy

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Greg Norman has vowed to stay with LIV Golf despite criticism from Rory McIlroy, adding the door remains open for the world number one to defect down the line.

Additionally, the two-time major champion revealed that the Saudi-funded breakaway tour had discussions with Justin Thomas, although he didn’t say whether the two-time PGA Championship winner would switch allegiances.

Since its inception in 2021, LIV Golf has sparked a bitter civil war in the sport, with McIlroy and Tiger Woods hurling scathing rebukes at Norman and his allies.

There were calls earlier this month for the Australian to step down, with the pair suggesting reconciliation could be on the table should he step down.

But Norman says he will resist such calls, telling Bunkered magazine: “Rory and Tiger have no idea what they’re talking about. Nothing at all.

“I have my president’s full support. There’s never been anything to suggest otherwise. They’re trying to drag me into a public back and forth. I’m not going down that childish path.

“You can already see that LIV is a leader. The PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, they are followers. They basically copied our homework.”

Norman suggested McIlroy would be welcomed with open arms if he were to change his tune, while praising Thomas for his conduct in not criticizing LIV Golf after being approached to join him.

“Our door is open to everyone,” he added. “We’re not the PGA Tour. We’re not like that. We exist for the players, so we’ll always have an open door, whether it’s for Rory or Jordan Spieth or Justin Thomas or whoever it is.

“We spoke to JT [Thomas], we sat down with him and gave him the full presentation. If you notice, he hasn’t said a whole lot of negative things about what we’re doing, probably because he knows and understands that.”

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