Greg Norman has been heavily criticised for his role in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League, with former PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman claiming the Australian has ‘got it wrong’

Ex-PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman has criticised LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman for his handling of the Saudi-backed league.

Norman, who took charge of the LIV setup in June 2022, has managed to attract some of golf’s biggest names including Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, and Jon Rahm.

Despite this, he has faced criticism, with Beman being the latest to voice his concerns. The former PGA Tour boss believes that Norman has failed to meet the expectations of his Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) bosses.

“From the outside, it would appear to me that Greg sold them a bill of goods,” he told Sports Illustrated. “Sold them on the fact that if he got a certain number of prominent players, that he wouldn’t be investing billions a year with no sign that they can even break even.

“I think he sold them on the face that the players who went there could defeat the Tour in the regulation of conflicting events. I think he got that wrong.

“And I think he got it wrong that the superstars in his mind would control everything. The realities are that someone like Jack [Nicklaus] in his heyday was the best player in the world and played as few tournaments as he could and the Tour was still successful without him. It’s the same with Tiger [Woods].

“It’s the organization and the volunteers and the events themselves and the ability to attract corporate sponsors who put up the money to make it all work. And they get great value for that. It’s not Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods even though we love to have them.”

Greg Norman could be replaced as LIV Golf CEO ( Image: Getty Images)

The remarks from Beman arrive a midst ongoing speculation about Norman’s role’s future. Last week, insiders at Sports Business Journal revealed that Saudi bosses might be seeking a new figurehead for the league, potentially shuffling Norman into an alternative position within their framework.

The search for a fresh CEO coincides with PIF entering discussions with the PGA Tour to broker some sort of truce between the warring golfing federations. High-profile players like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have suggested before that Norman should step down for harmony to prevail.

“I think Greg needs to go. I think he just needs to exit stage left,” McIlroy has openly stated. “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.”

Woods shared the sentiment, adding: “I think Greg has to go, first of all… Then we can talk, we can all talk freely.”