LIV Golf chief Greg Norman has revealed he has lost friends over his role with the controversial Saudi backed tour.
Norman has been a divisive figure within the sport after LIV tempted several big name stars to defect with the lure of lucrative deals. After the PGA Tour handed bans to LIV rebels, 11 golfers filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA which LIV has since joined.
In an interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Norman said the ongoing saga has taken a toll on him. "To be honest with you, at times, my heat shield gets a little weak," he said.
"I am a human being. I've done a lot for the game of golf. I was the No 1 player in the world for six years.
"I've done things for the game, I've promoted the game, I've grown it. So when they do these things..."
And when asked if he had lost personal friends within the sport, Norman replied: "100 per cent I have. But if they want to judge me on lack of information, they're the ones with the small mind.
"My moral line is I believe in the product. My moral line is I've been a staunch promoter of growing the game of golf on a global basis. My moral line is golf is the force for good.
"It is so resonatingly powerful to see the strength of what the game of golf can do in different countries around the world, to change the economy of things, to change the hospitality, to change tourism... all these little ingredients that golf is the initial reason why you could change these.
"I am so proud to be in this role... Maybe my legacy on the golf course is not my legacy, maybe my legacy is what we're doing with LIV for the game of golf and giving this opportunity to collegiate players, eventually to women and to the guys we have today and our product is speaking for itself."
