‘Mendacity Buffoon’: Greg Norman’s Weird $450M Declare Turn out to be a Laughing Inventory Amongst Followers Amid Group Championship Showdown

It’s laborious to consider that LIV Golf will finish its third season in only a day. The breakaway circuit began in 2022 after providing hundreds of thousands to PGA Tour gamers and creating an revolutionary 54-hole, 54-player league. Within the final three years, the PIF-backed circuit has damaged some data—not on the degree of the PGA Tour but—however they’ve written some historical past and laid the muse for LIV Golf.

Consequently, the CEO of LIV Golf, Greg Norman, celebrated by sharing what they’ve completed up to now three years. Flushing It Golf posted a quick assertion from Norman speaking about LIV Golf’s success. Appreciating their achievements, the “Nice Shark” mentioned, “We’ve seen our viewers house go up. We’re in 450 million households yearly, in 190 totally different international locations.”

Moreover, Norman gave credit score to the whole league and golfers, reflecting on their journey since 2022. They’ve been criticized from all sides for varied issues, together with the format, poaching gamers, or the loud music. Nonetheless, the previous PGA Tour professional has moved on from all these criticisms, claiming that the league has proven the general public and the golf ecosystem that they have been additive to it. Norman added, “That was vital for all of us to get via what we went via for a few years.”

Now, Norman is completely satisfied to have moved on from the early doubts about whether or not the league would even survive, however the criticism has not left the PIF-backed circuit, because the golf world used this chance to belittle the Aussie professional and his spearheaded league.

Netizens belittle Greg Norman’s 450M declare

Greg Norman’s declare that LIV Golf has been reaching 450 million households and 190 international locations might need confused many. In spite of everything, the breakaway circuit visited solely eight international locations this yr: the UK, Australia, Hong Kong, Spain, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and america. So why did Norman declare 190 international locations?

The “Nice Shark” was in all probability implying that viewers might probably tune in to the occasions, because the stream is accessible in these 190 international locations, and the 450 million declare is likely to be the combination of the viewers tuning in. However that didn’t spare Norman from being trolled by the golf world. One fan took a jibe at Norman’s declare, saying, “Lmao. Um, Gregger? You’re not in 5% of the WORLD’s households.” One other thought was that it might be satirical coming from Norman, however it was certainly true. Being shocked at his statements, the consumer mentioned, “He can’t be critical. Anyone that believes that’s delusional.” 

Keep in mind the $3 billion merger between the PGA Tour and PIF? Sure, that’s been within the works since June 2023, however as an alternative of progress, there have solely been delays. Followers are ready, and doubtless the golfers too. The merger might permit LIV golfers to play a number of occasions on the PGA Tour and may also let PGA Tour execs play on LIV Golf. Regardless, it will be a transactional deal. Nonetheless, one consumer thought it will profit LIV extra, as they weren’t additive to the golf ecosystem, opposite to Norman’s declare. They commented, “450 million? Lol. What a mendacity buffoon. And anybody else with a pulse is aware of they haven’t been additive. In the event that they have been then there wouldn’t be talks of them having to merge with pgat and make investments pif cash within the tour.” 

The best LIV Golf hit with TV rankings this yr was on the season-opening occasion, LIV Golf Mayakoba’s remaining spherical on Sunday. Was it that entertaining? Sure, however the purpose LIV Golf attained a record-breaking 432K viewers wasn’t simply that. That week, the PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am was additionally being contested, however resulting from inclement climate, the occasion ended after 54 holes, leaving LIV with out competitors on Sunday. Usually, LIV Golf averages over 100K viewers on the CW Community. Thus, the 450 million family declare shocked one other fan, who mentioned, “He’s so f***ing stuffed with sh*t they’re barely 100,000 per spherical.” 

Final yr, Golf.com reported that the league made zero income within the 2022 season, and in 2023, they didn’t make greater than $100 million. It needs to be famous that, in keeping with the New York Occasions, PIF has invested $2 billion into the league, however it has did not generate important income. Consequently, one commenter famous, “Nonetheless in all probability shedding billions a yr although.”

Will LIV Golf truly come nearer to breaking PGA Tour data and attracting a bigger viewers base within the USA or globally? That continues to be to be seen.