Rory McIlroy believes Greg Norman’s departure as head of LIV Golf is key to co-existence with the PGA Tour

World No 1 Rory McIlroy makes no secret that he is not a fan of LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman. On Tuesday, he made that point clear as he prepared to compete at the DP World Tour Championship. Speaking to the media ahead of the European final, the tournament McIlroy seeks to claim from his FedEx Cup crown on the PGA Tour, the 33-year-old presented what he believes needs to happen. out to achieve peace in the male world. golf.

“There are a few things that I would like to see on the LIV side that need to happen,” McIlroy said. “I think Greg [Norman] need to go. I think he needs to exit the stage on the left. Look, he’s made his mark, I think now is the right time to say, ‘Look, you’ve done this, but no one’s going to say unless there’s an adult in the room. room can actually try to fix the fence.'”

Norman, the current CEO and head of LIV Golf, has been in the headlines in recent weeks; walkie talkie recently reported on the possibility of leaving his current position with rival league. That report was later denied by Majed Al Sorour, CEO of the Saudi Golf Federation and leader of Saudi Golf, and the Australian has since spoken out about LIV’s success and the debt. gratitude that he believes the people on the PGA Tour owe.

Norman said: “Every PGA Tour player should thank LIV, including Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, because the PIP program would not have been increased without LIV. “Bonus won’t go up without LIV, everything else has been introduced by the PGA Tour because of LIV. Competition is the best thing in life, in business and in sports. LIV is not going anywhere. LIV is just going to get better and better, and LIV Golf is just getting started.”

This direct affirmation from Norman may have been the basis for McIlroy’s plea for his removal. Asked later if this claim was warranted, the Northern Irishman couldn’t help but chuckle.

“I’ve said this a million times: Tiger is the reason we play so hard for us,” McIlroy said. “Tiger is the reason that the stature of our game is in its place. The generation of Tiger and the generation after Tiger have both benefited from him and his accomplishments as well as what he did. make golf game.

“I don’t think Tiger should be grateful to anyone for anything. I think everyone else in the game should be grateful.”

LIV Golf and the PGA Tour — as well as the DP World Tour — are now at war not only on the golf course but also in the courtroom. With an antitrust lawsuit from LIV Golf claiming that the PGA Tour unlawfully suspended players from competing in LIV Golf events and a lawsuit from the PGA Tour claiming that LIV interfered with the The players’ consensus still needs to come to their conclusion, it’s clear that no movement in potential peace talks will be made until they are put to rest.

“Clearly this has been a controversial year in golf,” said McIlroy. “And I said this: The best thing for golf is to have all the best players play together, and what’s happening right now, it’s not going to happen. So I’m scared for that. game while that is happening.

“It’s controversial because there are lawsuits going on and people suing people; it’s very, very messy. So again, if all of that can be resolved one way or another, then you can get to a stage where there’s forgiveness and people can have dialogue and come to some common ground or compromise.But again, once all of this is happening, It’s very difficult to do that.”