Saudi-backed golf series with Greg Norman as commissioner expected to be launched

Multiple people have confirmed to Golfweek that a private meeting with golf media members took place on Wednesday, outlining plans for a new Saudi-backed golf series. The five people spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the series won’t be officially announced until next week. Greg Norman is expected to be announced as the commissioner for the new circuit, sources have also confirmed. It’s unclear whether the new series will be unveiled as a full league—the Saudis have previously pitched the Premier Golf League (PGL) and Super Golf League (SGL) to no avail—or as a trial balloon with a handful of tournaments. Nor is it clear what the PGA Tour will do in response. Media members who attended the session in New York City were asked to hold the news until early next week, sources have confirmed. Golfweek, which has written critically about the potential tour in the past, was not invited to attend the event. With the Saudis behind the push, the new circuit will have the cash to lure top names. Back in May, a group made multi-million dollar offers to several of the game’s best players, including then-world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Brooks Koepka, Bryson Dechambeau, Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose, with some reaching in the neighborhood of $50 million. That proposed league was expected to feature 40-48 players playing an 18-event schedule in tournaments around the world with lucrative purses, with a season-ending team championship. The league would have included guaranteed money as well as a team concept that would dole out ownership stakes for 10-12 players who would captain four-man teams. The rival league push came to a head in the late spring with the Saudis looking to partner with the European Tour. Soon after, the PGA Tour announced a new pot of $40 million called the Player Impact Program to “recognize and reward players who positively move the needle.”