Norman hits out at LIV critics after Adelaide success

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman has taken a huge swipe at critics of the league, insisting that he feels sorry for them.

Norman, 69, was speaking to Australian Golf Digest after watching the Saudifunded circuit stage another hugely successful event in his native Australia.

A record crowd of more than 94,000 showed up at the Grange Golf Club in Adelaide to see the allAussie Ripper GC win the team title, with Brendan Steele taking the individual honours.

It was the second year in a row that LIV has captured the imagination of Norman’s fellow Australians and, watching the action unfold, he was understandably proud.

“Vindication is not the right word,” said Norman, pictured.

“It’s the ignorance of others who simply didn’t understand what we were trying to do.

“I actually feel sorry for them because they now see the true value of LIV Golf and want to be a part of it.

“The support Australia gave me during my own playing career for decades was something I have never forgotten. It’s why I brought LIV Golf back home – I did it for them.”

He added: “The people have well and truly spoken. Both individual and team golf is alive and well in Australia and they deserve it. I knew they would support this event.

“I’m feeling extremely proud right now. With what we’ve (LIV Golf) gone through over the past 16 months, both as a league and what I’ve copped personally… the hatred… this makes it all worthwhile.”

The same Australian Golf Digest report also revealed that Norman is set to fly to the Philippines this week for the latest round of league expansion talks.

● Yuto Katsuragawa set his sights on a place on the PGA Tour after claiming a home win at the ISPS Handa Championship in Japan.

The world no 434 started the week largely unknown outside of his homeland and it looked like it would stay that way as he entered the final round three shots off the lead among players with winning pedigree on the DP World Tour.

But he found himself in a share of top spot around the turn after picking up two shots on the front nine as the leaders faltered and five birdies in seven holes from the 10th sent him soaring to victory.

A closing 63 moved him to 17 under, three shots clear of Swede Sebastian Soderberg.

His runner-up finish after a closing 67 boosted his chances of playing in next month’s US PGA Championship as he moved to the top of the DP World Tour’s Asian Swing, with the top three players in those rankings at the end of next week’s Volvo China Open earning a place in the field at Valhalla.

Four Scots made the cut with Aberdeen’s Richie Ramsay the best place after a final round 71 saw him end on seven under. Scott Jamieson was two shots further back, with Calum Hill two under and Ewen Ferguson one under.

Greg Norman.