It’s time for Greg to go, says McIlroy

WORLD number one Rory McIlroy believes Greg Norman should quit as LIV Golf CEO to allow the “adults” to negotiate a peace settlement in golf’s civil war.

McIlroy has been the biggest supporter of the established tours in their battle with the Saudifunded breakaway circuit, but recently called for a compromise to be reached between the rival factions. However, McIlroy believes that will be impossible if Norman remains at the helm of LIV Golf, which is expanding to a 14-event league schedule in 2023.

“I think Greg needs to go. I think he just needs to exit stage left,” McIlroy told a pre-tournament press conference ahead of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

“He’s made his mark but I think now is the right time to say you’ve got this thing off the ground but no-one’s going to talk unless there’s an adult in the room that can actually try to mend fences.”

LIV Golf last week denied reports that Norman would be replaced by former TaylorMade executive Mark King, while there is also the small matter of various lawsuits to be resolved before any compromise can be reached.

“There are obviously two lawsuits going on at the minute,” McIlroy added. “There’s the PGA Tour versus LIV and there’s obviously this one that’s coming up with the DP World Tour in February.

“Nothing can happen if those two things are going on. Right now it is a bit of a stalemate.”

February’s legal hearing will determine whether LIV players such as Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood can be banned from the DP World Tour and therefore be ineligible to qualify for the Ryder Cup.

McIlroy admits his relationship with a number of Ryder Cup teammates has been damaged by their defection to LIV Golf and feels they should not be on Luke Donald’s side in Rome next year.

But asked if “forgiveness” was possible in an increasingly polarised environment, McIlroy said: “Yeah, I think in time, that can happen. It’s obviously been a very contentious year in golf. The best thing in golf is to have all the best players playing together, and (with) what’s happening right now, that’s not happening.”

He added: “I think next year, if we can get storylines to be about the golf and what’s happening on the course, that’s a good thing.”

LIV Golf declined to respond to McIlroy’s comments when contacted by the PA news agency.