“You can’t ban players,” Greg Norman sent SCATHING mail to Jay Monahan for threatening players prior $1 billion LIV Golf event launch in 2022
Greg Norman sent an email to Jay Monahan after the launch of LIV stating he can’t ban players from joining the Saudi-backed league in 2022.
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Untitled Jay Monahan and Greg Norman [Image Credit: Golf Channel/The Sydney Morning Herald]
Prior to the merger noise, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman reveals sending a scathing email to PGA Tour CEO Jay Monahan for apparently threatening players from joining the Saudi-backed league. This incident took place in 2022, prior to LIV Golf celebrating its first event outside London.
According to Norman’s statement, the PGA Tour noted that they’ll ban all players from official tournaments and OWGR if they join any tour besides their current one. Their warning didn’t work in the end, as many excellent players decided to join the Saudi league for the massive money pocket and fewer event plays.
The email was sent to Monahan on February 22 last year with the subject line, “You Can’t Ban Players from Playing Golf”. Norman blasted Monahan stating how he could “threatened the players on PGA Tour” despite them being independent contractors “with lifetime bans if they decide to play golf in a league sponsored by anyone other than the Tour.”
Greg Norman blasts Jay Monahan for threatening players from joining LIV Golf
![Jay Monahan and Greg Norman [Image Credit: Golfweek/Palm Beach Post]](https://firstsportz.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Untitled-design-12-18-1024x768.png)
Greg Norman further questioned Jay Monahan “What is wrong with that?” playing in both leagues. ‘The Shark’ stated, “Players have the right and the freedom to play where we like.” While some remained loyal to the Tour, many star players decided to opt for the new league.
With billions in assets, the LIV Golf launched its first tour in 2022 with starting pocket of $1 billion. According to reports, the Saudi-funded league had more than $720 billion in assets to which PGA in the end complied.
Following the shock merger in June 2023, PGA Tour CEO Jay Monahan admitted that they didn’t have the bank balance to continue their feud with the rival league any longer. They had to come to a mutual standpoint, and the merger served as the bridge.
The PGA, LIV, and DP World Tour will combine their forces to bring out more excitement and changes to the traditional golf rules. Although it can be expected that the changes will not take place prior to 2024.
While some players are excited, some have clearly stated their stance with LIV Golf, despite getting an opportunity to go back to Tour. Dustin Johnson and Brooks Kopeka are two of the players who made their allegiance clear to the Saudi league. The duo stated that they are satisfied with playing fewer events and will continue on this route as of now.
Shockingly, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman was left out of the whole merger noise despite being at the forefront of the battle since last year. Players like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, who were the defenders of PGA also had no idea of the catalytic change that shook the golf world.
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Kaushani Chatterjee
(2175 Articles Published)