Gary Player launches into LIV Golf rant and claims Greg Norman has 'personal vendetta'

Golf icon Gary Player has slammed the impasse between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, insisting that a deal should have been sealed as long ago as last December. The nine-time major champion insists LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman has a ‘personal vendetta’ against the PGA.

Player wants a merger between the two tours as stars are not having to beat the very best players to win tournaments.

Speaking at an event, the 89-year-old said: “I think the PGA, we made the mistake in the beginning when the Saudis, all they wanted was five tournaments, to put in $20m dollars per tournament. Think about that - and they were turned down. That was the start of the war.

“Then they got Greg Norman, who I’m very friendly with. He’s had a personal vendetta against the PGA for ages. So it started off badly and it’s not going to get better. Now when you win a tournament, can you honestly say, ‘I’m beating the best in the world’?

“We wanted to beat the best. And let me tell you, you had Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Raymond Floyd, Hale Irwin… You can go down the line.

“These guys are such fierce competitors. Now, you win a tournament, can you honestly say, ‘I beat the best in the world’? For me that’s sad. The people want to see that. There’s a bit of stubbornness on both sides.”

Player went on to claim that there is not enough help for players from his generation.

He continued: “I don’t know what’s going to happen. How are they going to help people like myself and Arnold - who’s gone - and Jack? They’ve come up with a system … and it’s bad.

“They’ve taken $75m, they put it there for 36 guys, the guys who won the most majors, made the most cuts, played the most tournaments, they get a certain amount of money.

“That money is put into an investment company and it might not do well and you might not get anything. The first payment we’re gonna get is when I’m 91. Will I be alive? I hope so. Jack Nicklaus, I don’t know whether he will be.

“The second payment is when you’re 98. But here’s the sad thing, you’ve got a guy like Larry Nelson, won three major championships, captained the Ryder Cup. Tony Jacklin won the British Open and US Open and a host of tournaments worldwide. Dave Stockton won PGAs. They’re getting nothing.

“They’re not even on the list. Can you imagine how they feel just being discarded like that? The whole thing is a mess. Do they (PGA and LIV Golf) want to get together? A conclusion should have come about at least last December. It’s lingering and you’ve got a guy like Jimmy Dunne, who’s the most perfect man for the situation, he’s resigned.

“Then someone said, ‘They can come back on the tour if they give their money back’. Are you crazy? You gotta give $540m back? No siree. That’s a lot of money.”