Norman’s invitation to Open pulled
Greg Norman, who is the CEO and commissioner of the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series, isn’t welcome at the British Open’s Celebration of Champions event on Monday or at next week’s Champions’ Dinner at St. Andrews.
The R&A informed the two-time British Open champion that he won’t be allowed to attend either event ahead of the final major championship of 2022. Norman, who won the Open at Turnberry in 1986 and at Royal St. George’s in 1993, would have been eligible to play in the four-hole exhibition and to attend the annual dinner.
“The 150th Open is an extremely important milestone for golf and we want to ensure that the focus remains on celebrating the championship and its heritage,” the R&A, which informed the 67year-old of the news on Saturday, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, we do not believe that would be the case if Greg were to attend. We hope that when circumstances allow Greg will be able to attend again in future.”
Norman is among those at the center of the controversy surrounding LIV Golf, which has fractured the sport by poaching a number of stars from the PGA Tour, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau.
“I’m disappointed,” Norman told Australian Golf Digest on Saturday. “I would have thought the R&A would have stayed above it all given their position in world golf. [It’s] petty, as all I have done is promote and grow the game of golf globally, on and off the golf course, for more than four decades.”
The LIV league, which features 54-hole tournaments with no cut and guaranteed money, has drawn the ire of a number of organizations, including a 9/11 survivors group because it is financially backed by the Saudi Arabian government. It is also widely seen as being used to sports-wash that country’s abhorrent human rights record.
In response to LIV Golf’s disruption of the game, the PGA Tour has suspended players who have signed up for the rival circuit, while the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) is fining players 100,000 pounds ($120,000) for each LIV tournament in which they play.
The R&A is allowing players from LIV Golf to compete in the British Open, after the USGA did the same for the U.S. Open last month because they are open to anyone who qualifies.
Earlier this year, Norman sought a special exemption to play in the British Open, which is marking its 150th anniversary. The tournament allows exemptions for past champions aged 60 or under or for those who have won the Open in the last 10 years. Norman was denied his request and did not try to qualify.