Greg Norman told what 'he got wrong' as LIV boss comes under fire by ex-PGA Tour chief

Former chief Deane Beman has accused Greg Norman of selling rebel stars a 'bill of goods'. The 86-year-old believes the LIV Golf boss incorrectly presumed that securing as many high-profile players as possible would be the recipe for success.

Norman was named as the breakaway tour's CEO when it was formed as a rival to the PGA Tour in 2022. The Saudi-backed league paid lucrative sums to players prepared to make the controversial switch.

However, the two tours are now in talks over a potential merger and as CEO. Beman has opened up on what he thinks the 69-year-old has done wrong.

He told : "I haven't been there at the core of it to understand all that is going on now. But from the outside, it would appear to me that Greg sold them a bill of goods.

"Sold them on the fact that if he got a certain number of prominent players, that he wouldn't be investing billions a year with no sign that they can even break even.

"I think he sold them on the face that the players who went there could defeat the Tour in the regulation of conflicting events. I think he got that wrong."

Beman, who was PGA commissioner between 1974 and 1994, believes Norman was naive in thinking 'superstar' players would be LIV Golf's overriding attraction.

"And I think he got it wrong that the superstars in his mind would control everything," he continued.

"The realities are that someone like Jack in his heyday was the best player in the world and played as few tournaments as he could and the Tour was still successful without him. It's the same with Tiger.

"It's the organisation and the volunteers and the events themselves and the ability to attract corporate sponsors who put up the money to make it all work. And they get great value for that. It's not Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods even though we love to have them."

Wide-ranging reports earlier this month claimed that Norman was set to leave his position as LIV Golf CEO. The Saudi Public Investment Fund are said to be finding a replacement.

Meanwhile, talks remain ongoing over a merger between the PGA and LIV Tours. Both parties announced a 'framework agreement' midway through 2023 but a full deal has not been completed.