Many were surprised to see Kevin Na quit the PGA Tour ahead of joining a Saudi-funded rival competition, and LIV Golf Series CEO Greg Norman was among them.
The PGA has been explicit in its intent to sanction accredited players who choose to participate in the 'Saudi Golf League', which is slated to put on eight invitational events this year. The Centurion Club in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, will host the inaugural tournament starting June 9, with a total of 47 players expected to compete.
Rather than risk litigation from the PGA Tour, Na recently announced he was 'exercising his right as a free agent' to cut ties with the body. The likes of Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood are also confirmed to feature in the LIV Golf Series but have not quit the PGA Tour.
"I'm a bit surprised, actually," said Norman in reaction to Na quitting golf 's established professional league. "The players don't have to resign from the Tour. That was Kevin's decision for whatever reason he wanted to make it.
"I respect the man for making a bold decision. I respect the person for wanting to come on board with us, because he knows he has a great opportunity with LIV. I'll applaud him for it, but he didn't have to, from our behalf, because LIV would be there (for him).
"Like I've always said, we're going to back up the players. I'll back up the players as much as I need to, to give them their rights to be able to do whatever they want to do as independent contractors."
Who do you think will win the inaugural LIV Golf Series event? Let us know in the comments section.
LIV ambassador Norman has been hard at work for months attempting to convince pros and the wider golf community of the breakaway competition's potential. Each event is set to feature a $25million (£25m) prize purse, and the two-time major champion has pledged that LIV will "defend, reimburse and represent" any players sanctioned by the PGA.
Despite that safety net, Na has chosen to avoid the potential risk by stepping away the PGA, though he said he hopes to compete under their banner again one day. Norman called it a "huge feather in the cap for LIV" that Johnson had decided to join, sticking out as the highest-profile player to do so.
Norman was appointed chief executive of LIV Golf Investments in October 2021. The company's main shareholder is the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia that also took over Premier League club Newcastle United last year.
