Greg Norman: LPGA stars ‘love’ LIV and want a women’s league
LIV Golf’s commissioner has revealed that talks are happening with the biggest names in the women’s game
LIV Golf boss Greg Norman has always asserted the rebel league is a force for good and a vehicle to grow the sport globally.
Norman has often been scrutinised for towing this line, with the backdrop of investment from Saudi Arabia and the luring prize purses on offer at each event.
But could LIV Golf take a step towards reducing the nay-sayers by expanding into the women’s game?
It’s a question not frequently asked of Norman since LIV’s inception in June 2022, but before the LIV Golf Adelaide event, he revealed a number of LPGA Tour players are admirers of the breakaway series.
“That is a discussion we have internally on a regular basis,” Norman said. ” I have personally had discussions with individual LPGA Tour players, LET players, and the Ladies European Tour.
“They love what our product is showcasing. They ask all the time, how can we get involved, we’d love to see a LIV ladies series.
“This year was our first season where we’re kicking off. We can only drink out of a fire hydrant so much, so we have a lot of opportunities and initiatives coming across our plate.
“Our focus is to make sure this year we produce what we’re producing here from day one and then going forward, we’re looking what are the best opportunities to build on to what we have today.
“The answer to the question is yes, we talk about it internally, and I have had discussions with individual lady players, professional players.”
A LIV women’s tour could certainly be on the cards in the future, as key figures from the LIV hierarchy have already delved into the female game.
Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, is also the chairman of Aramco which is a state-owned oil company.
The company is the title sponsor of the Aramco Team Series, a circuit that combines professional and amateur female golfers into teams with events worth $1 million each.
The Series has already held one event in Singapore in 2023 and is heading to Trump West Palm Beach in Florida in May.
Back in October, two-time LPGA Tour winner Charley Hull said “You’d be mad not to consider” a merger with LIV, while commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan has also refused to rule out this prospect.
Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
