Jon Rahm once suggested that LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman might have to step down for peace in the sport, and now it appears the Aussie's reign could be nearing its end . Reports from Sports Business Journal on Tuesday indicate that the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) is searching for a new CEO to lead the LIV organisation, potentially replacing Norman.
The ex-world No. 1 has helmed the league since its start two years back, with suggestions he'd shift to another position within the league. Norman, who has been instrumental in setting up LIV as a rival to the PGA Tour over recent seasons, has found himself at the centre of controversy in the men's professional golf scene once more.
Before joining the Saudi-backed tour after penning a deal reportedly worth $600 million last December, Rahm - whose net worth is staggering - commented on the league's chief , stating that Norman might need to be ousted to reach an understanding with the PGA Tour, reports the Mirror US .
Rahm remarked in November 2022: "I think Greg has had a vendetta against the PGA Tour for a long time. And when you have an ulterior motive, it can cloud your judgment a little bit. Greg is a player, not a businessman, even if he has been successful in that area. To me, he has an ulterior motive beyond just creating a golf tour. He's had this vengeance for 30 years."
"His intentions might not be as pure as they could, which is a problem. So he might not be the best person for the job, even if he has done great things for the tour. I do believe that, for conversations to take place, Greg might need to be gone. Right now, it doesn't seem like he and Jay [Monahan, PGA Tour Commissioner] will want to be in the same room together."
Rahm continued by suggesting that for any reconciliation in the sport, either Norman or Monahan would have to step down, though he expressed his backing for Monahan at the time: "Even if they disagreed, it would have been good to talk," the Spanish ace remarked.
"So to get a resolution we might need one or both of them gone. I hope not. Jay has done a great job for the PGA Tour."
In June last year - half a year before Rahm's comments - the PGA Tour confirmed they had established a framework agreement with PIF, featuring Monahan and Saudi leader Yasir Al-Rumayyan at the heart of the discussions.
Subsequently, reports emerged that Norman was excluded from the arrangement, with his position as LIV CEO likely to become obsolete. However, speaking in October, Norman dismissed any suggestions of his impending exit.
"I knew it wasn't 'true'", Norman commented on the rumours from a year prior.
"There's so much white noise running around out there, I paid very, very, I actually paid zero attention to it. I know sitting in this seat today, I know every step I've made has been for the right reasons, right reasons for the game of golf."
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