Australian golfing great Greg Norman – the face of a controversial Saudi golf series – attempted to brush off questions about the murder of the dissident Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi on Thursday by claiming “we’ve all made mistakes”.
Norman was speaking in the UK about plans for the $255 million Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series, which is being bankrolled by the country’s sovereign wealth fund, the PIF and has been criticised because of Saudi Arabia’s record on human rights.
Many of the questions he faced were about that issue, including the 2018 murder and dismemberment of Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
“Everybody has owned up to it, right?” The Times newspaper reported Norman as saying. “It has been spoken about, from what I’ve read, going on what you guys reported. Take ownership, no matter what it is. Look, we’ve all made mistakes and you just want to learn from those mistakes and how you can correct them going forward.”
The CIA and UN have claimed that Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince and PIF chairman, sanctioned the killing.
Greg Norman talks to the media in Al Murooj, Saudi Arabia. in February (Photo by Luke Walker/WME IMG/WME IMG via Getty Images)
Bin Salman has denied the allegation but said that he took “full responsibility” as a leader of his country.
Norman was also asked how he felt when he heard about the execution of 81 men in Saudi Arabia on March 12.
“I got a lot of messages but quite honestly I look forward,” Norman said.
“I don’t look back. I don’t look into the politics of things. I’m not going to get into the quagmire of whatever else happens in someone else’s world.
“I heard about it and just kept moving on.”
Norman, also pledged to “defend, reimburse and represent” any players who should face sanctions if they take part in his breakaway series.
Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood are among the professionals to have asked for the required release from the PGA Tour to play the first 54-hole event at Centurion Club in England, which boasts a total prize fund of $US25million ($A36 million) and $US4m ($A5.7 m) to the winner.
However, PGA Tour members were informed on Tuesday that releases will not be granted, leaving them open to possible bans or fines if they do tee it up in St Albans from June 9-11.
Asked if his legal team had injunctions in place to protect players in the face of any bans, including potentially from major championships, Norman said: “Yes.
“We are going to back up the players, we are going to be there for them, for whatever that is. We’re ready to go. We don’t want to go, but we’re ready to go.
“It will be the player’s choice. I’m not going to begrudge any player who makes a decision to play wherever he wants. We’re giving them the ability because we believe LIV is here for a long period of time.
“If you want to go exclusively to the PGA Tour, happy days, go do it. I guarantee that a lot of people will come eventually to play with LIV Golf.
“I’ve said to the players, ‘we’ve got your back. Simple as that’. We will defend, we will reimburse and we will represent.”
Releases were granted for the Saudi International earlier this year, but that is an event previously staged by the European Tour and now sanctioned by the Asian Tour.
The LIV Golf events will be seen as a potential rival tour, with Norman saying he has been given an extra $US2billion ($A2.9 billion) in funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to build the series of eight events into a full 14-event league by 2024.
Given the strategic alliance between the circuits, the European Tour is expected to follow the PGA Tour in refusing releases for an event held close to its headquarters at Wentworth.
“If none of the top 20 (in the world) come, it’s still going ahead,” said Norman.
“There is still value in there. Imagine if a 15-year-old kid out of Asia came in and won the first event. He’s the next superstar.”
Bloke7
Roar Rookie
Just saw the unofficial list of CIA foreign assassinations and attempted assassinations. Was over 60 and the list ended in 2012. That's ignoring all the American government investment in Saudi Arabia and the military contracts that have gone to Saudi Arabia from the US government in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not to mention Australia's participation in the Qatar death stadium world cup. But LIV are the villains? Anyone criticising LIV golf needs to criticise a lot more people first.
Lara
Guest
Just had a look at the players joining up n DJ $ 175 million for joining….Kevin Na polite request to leave the PGA n thanking them for supporting him for 19 years. DJ is the star signing no doubt to date, he can actually win on the PGA on a regular basis , the rest are field fullers, make a very nice living by just making the cut ever so often. The young stars need to make their name on the PGA, the contenders for titles will stay with the PGA n those wanting majors. Money talks , Norman knows that. He will get a few more n good luck to them……he not going to catch a Marlin but a lot of Spotties
John66
Roar Rookie
The glossing over 'we all make mistakes' line was poorly chosen when asked a question by the journalist. Perhaps more preparation for how to answer such a question should have taken place. However, for all those taking yet another opportunity to conduct Norman for his connection with Saudi funding just be aware... Formula 1, English football and boxing already have willingly accepted funding from the same Saudi PIF. The European Tour for several years was happy to have thw Saudi Invitational sanctioned as an event on its tour. The PGA released players to take part in this event year after year, including 2022 when it is no longer on the newly named, DP World Tour. The Asian tour now includes this event and another 10 Saudi funded tournaments in its schedule. The Ladies European Tour has 10 Saudi funded events, without significantly larger prize money, as the backbone of its tour. Very little complaint heard about any of this. Yet Norman has supposedly sold his soul to the devil when he uses the same funds to grow the game beyond the 40 year long monopoly of the US PGA Tour. The PGA tour have gleefully used their rich coffers to draw the best players in the world to their tour and robbed much of world from seeing these players. Only 3 releases per season for a player to play elsewhere if it clashes with a US tour event. Norman was passionate about growing the game globally in the mid 90's when he had been the best player in the world and the US tour's greatest drawcard for 331 weeks over a 15 year career. He still is and having always had the vision, he now has access to the funding to make it happen. One thing i hate more than 'sportswashing' is the absolute hypocrisy attached to so much of the outrage on display about this new tour. Either no Saudi funding is ok or it all is...
Ad-O
Guest
TBH, governments and businesses around the world hold their nose and deal with the Saudis. And the status quo will always try to disparage competition thru any means they can. So I'm not gonna hang the guy out to dry too much. Having said that, being so poorly prepared to answer an obvious question doesn't reflect well at all and made him sound like a complete numpty.
Tony Harper
Editor
That's what you took away from this, it was a gotcha question? Criticise the question all you like, and IMO it's a valid one, but that answer is despicable. A 67-year-old who has handled hundreds of thousands of questions in his time needs to do much better with it.
Igor Oligarchov
Guest
Just a gotcha question from the journalist, and Norman has a target on his back at the moment. The establishment undermined him back in the 1990s also when he tried to get the World Golf Tour going. Why anyone from Australia would side with the US PGA is really bewildering. A bit like surrendering the Oz Open tennis to Indian Wells or Miami as a major and we just get the leftovers. They don't play an event here. We get the Presidents Cup maybe once every decade. The rest of the time we get a few journeyman pros playing here. Bring it on I say, f*** the USPGA! This Saudi league will give Australia a chance to host an any event.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
I wonder whether he’d take the same view if it was one of his family that was murdered?
Ian_
Roar Rookie
Murder is kind of in the unforgivable category of mistakes. Norman clearly shows his values here, money above everything else. I hope world golf authorities sanction the he'll out of organisers and participants in this circus.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I worry for him. He seems to have convinced himself this is anything but a money grab. His mind is apparently addled
Clownface
Guest
Norman, the Donald Trump of golf. Will say literally anything to ensure he gets richer. Has the same giant ego as well, I bet he has portraits of himself everywhere at home
Simoc
Guest
I can't see any top 20 players being interested. They make heaps of money anyway as it's about titles, particularly major titles. Only the older players would be interested because it is something new and easy money for them.
Coastyboi
Guest
Greg, you just made Liz Cambage look like a saint!
Marty
Roar Rookie
‘I don’t look backwards. I look forward… to seeing how much bigger my pile of money is. In the end that’s what really matters.’
Lara
Guest
What the F..k ! Norman go play with your putter.