LIV Golf set to replace Greg Norman as PGA Tour merger talks take huge twist

Greg Norman is set to be replaced as LIV Golf's CEO, with the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund actively looking for a replacement for the Australian.

The two-time major championship winner, 69, has been the most vocal figure and ambassador for the controversial breakaway league since its formation in 2022, and he will stay within the company even after his replacement is hired. According to Sports Business Journal , Norman will simply be moved into another role as his replacement is sought.

The PIF has hired a London-based recruitment firm to find its new CEO, and has already been turned down by Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark. The search for a new CEO comes amid ongoing and prolonged negotiations between the PIF and the PGA Tour over a merger, which will - when completed - completely reshape the landscape of the sport.

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Norman has essentially been the figurehead for the Saudi Arabia investment in the sport, and spoke recently about recruiting new players during the off-season with the seemingly-endless pockets of the PIF.

But now, it seems he'll take a step aside, as LIV looks to replace him as CEO as well as hiring a new chief revenue officer and chief logistics officer. It's claimed by SBJ that Norman has sufficient support from within the LIV Golf organisation, and this move isn't a demotion for the man who has been credited with the large portion of LIV's success.

Despite his support from within LIV, Norman has still managed to rub people the wrong way on the other side of the aisle.

Numerous names on the PGA Tour side have claimed Norman would need to exit his role for negotiations to continue and progress to the final stage.

Rory McIlroy previously claimed: "I think Greg needs to go. I think he just needs to exit stage left. He’s made his mark but I think now is the right time to say you’ve got this thing off the ground but no one’s going to talk unless there’s an adult in the room that can actually try to mend fences.”

Tiger Woods echoed McIlroy's sentiments, saying: "I think Greg has to go, first of all," Woods, 46, said. "And then obviously litigation against us and then our countersuit against them, those would then have to be at a stay as well. So then we can talk, we can all talk freely."