ST ALBANS, England (Reuters) – Former world primary Greg Norman spoke of his satisfaction at bringing “free company” to golf as his fledgling LIV Invitational Series acquired underway simply north of London on Thursday.
The breakaway collection, bankrolled to the tune of $250 million by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), is the richest occasion in golf’s historical past, however has sparked a bitter energy battle.
Speaking shortly earlier than play started at 1315GMT, Australian Norman it was the fruits of a 30-year plan.
“This is what it is all about. To see the gamers, to really feel the caddies, to have the members of the family coming as much as me and I mentioned to all of them ‘that is for you guys, that is for you and the followers…'”, Australian Norman mentioned.
“We’ve been attempting to get this off the bottom for 3 many years to be trustworthy with you and I simply really feel so completely happy for the gamers, I really feel so completely happy for the truth that we have introduced free company to the sport of golf.”
The PGA Tour and the Europe-based DP World Tour each declined requests from members for releases to compete on the first occasion at The Centurion membership close to St Albans, the place the winner of the person competitors will pocket $4 million — the biggest winners’ cheque ever in golf.
Shortly after play began, the PGA introduced that these gamers participating can be suspended from its Tour, a transfer LIV Golf described as vindictive.
With no midway reduce concerned within the 54-hole format, ending final of the 48 gamers participating within the occasion ensures $120,000.
The eighth and ultimate occasion of the collection in Miami, the fruits of the workforce championship, has a $50 million purse.
Despite being engulfed in controversy, Norman mentioned he was proud to be “rising the sport of golf”.
“The gamers are going ‘oh my gosh we by no means anticipated this’,” Norman mentioned. “They by no means anticipated LIV golf to be what it’s as we speak — they most likely by no means anticipated the joy.
“The draft get together the opposite evening was mind-bogglingly improbable. To see the 48 gamers work together the best way they did in the course of the draft get together. For me that was a wow issue second.”
The LIV Invitational crowns a person winner after seven occasions whereas a workforce competitors involving 12 groups of 4 chosen by captains such as Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson at a draft runs alongside.
Norman mentioned the workforce component made the LIV Series completely different.
“The particular person facet of LIV Golf is critically vital and we have all the time made positive that was half of the product,” he mentioned.
“But past that, after I went to the Ryder Cup for the primary time it simply blew my thoughts to see the fan engagement. The participant interplay I’ll always remember on the primary tee.
“That’s what’s lacking and that is why we constructed this workforce worth for LIV Golf.”
(Reporting by Martyn Herman, modifying by Ed Osmond)
