The LIV Golf Tour is racking up some big names in the golf world, including Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, and Kevin Na. They’re also waiting to find out if Phil Mickelson will follow through and play for them as well, with the understanding that if he does he may never play a PGA Tour event again.
Golf legend Jack Nicklaus recently confirmed that he took a “courtesy” meeting with the Saudi-backed entity about potentially running the league, but he obviously turned it down. Longtime golf rival and friend Greg Norman took that job and has been making some wild comments in recent months to defend the operation against critics.
However, while the two were once good friends, those days appear to be over since Nicklaus has become a detractor of the LIV Tour.
“One hundred percent truth? Jack’s a hypocrite,” Norman told the Washington Post. “When he came out with those comments, I’m thinking: Jack must have a short memory.”
Norman says that Nicklaus gave the tour his blessing before he started speaking against it.
“Quote-unquote, he said: ‘This is good for our game. If it’s good for the game of golf, it’s good by me,’ ” Norman said. “So, you want the facts? You’ve got the facts. Know what you said before you open your mouth.”
Nicklaus declined to respond to the article but a spokesman did include a statement to WaPo that reiterated Nicklaus’s “unwavering support” for the PGA Tour and that he wished Norman well.
The feeling does not appear to be mutual.
[WaPo]
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.