OT - Norman going to run competing tour

[Jeff Schley]

And so it begins........where it ends up and what professional golf looks like in a year or two who knows. They are competing for players so, I'm sure the PGA Tour will try and strong arm players into playing their events etc. Better for players as there is more money in the system if that is their prime motivation.
I had some insight a couple months ago, but surprised it came out this soon.

https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/32500931/golf-legend-greg-norman-set-run-competing-tour-hopes-begin-play-2022

[John Kavanaugh]

Will they be playing the same courses or with the architecture of the courses on the new tour be more compelling?

[Bernie Bell]

Will they be playing the same courses or with the architecture of the courses on the new tour be more compelling?

Strictly as a matter of showmanship, if you were running the new "Dark Side Tour" wouldn't you want to play on Trump courses?

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Geoff Shackelford chimes in:


https://quadrilateral.substack.com/p/upstart-league-may-have-solved-a

[Tom_Doak]

Will they be playing the same courses or with the architecture of the courses on the new tour be more compelling?

In Asia and the Middle East?  Yeah, right.

[Steve Lapper]

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2021/10/29/greg-norman-saudi-golf-deal-pga-tour-eamon-lynch/


I'll go with Eamon's take on this.

[MCirba]

What's next, the Khashoggi Open sponsored by Stihl Chainsaws and the Saudi Royal Family?

[Peter Pallotta]

What's next, the Khashoggi Open sponsored by Stihl Chainsaws and the Saudi Royal Family?

If it also partnered with the same online gambling site/sports book that nbc has, I think the Open should be just fine.

Btw, re: gambling -- will gamblers get mad if their man loses after a weird bounce on a quirky and driveable Par 4? Will they one day be demanding from the tours that all courses be fair?

[Brian_Ewen]

Can't be any worse.

[Brian_Ewen]

Btw, re: gambling -- will gamblers get mad if their man loses after a weird bounce on a quirky and driveable Par 4? Will they one day be demanding from the tours that all courses be fair?

American Gamblers?

[Kyle Henderson]

Will they be playing the same courses or with the architecture of the courses on the new tour be more compelling?

In Asia and the Middle East?  Yeah, right.

Yas Links? South Cape Owners Club? Bluffs at Ho Tram? The odds of compelling architecture are relatively small given the presumed primary foci will be $ and $$, but there is a small chance of getting at least one or two interesting venues on their schedule.

[Tim Martin]

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2021/10/29/greg-norman-saudi-golf-deal-pga-tour-eamon-lynch/


I'll go with Eamon's take on this.

The takeaway from the article is Norman doesn’t risk anything from a tour ban as he hasn’t played in an event for more than ten years. Additionally I think he would love to poke the PGA Tour in the eye for past slights whether imagined or real.

[Tom_Doak]

The Saudis have also made overtures to presumably a bunch of architects to sign up to build golf courses in Saudi Arabia. AFAIK the only two to sign up are Greg Norman and Jack Nicklaus.


I just didn’t respond, and glad I didn’t.  There seems to be a lot of work closer to home.

[Marty Bonnar]

I’m way too polite to Post what I really want to say here. Suffice it to say I think TD made the right decision.
F.

[Tim Martin]

I’m pretty sure if you were on the Titanic with Norman and there was only one seat left in the life boat that you better be a good swimmer.

[Rob Marshall]

I’m pretty sure if you were on the Titanic with Norman and there was only one seat left in the life boat that you better be a good swimmer.

There was a time when I was a Norman fan but that sailed long ago. He still has a chip on his shoulder about the world tour. I read an interesting article that he will be the one to challenge the tour ban because he has nothing to lose. He just try’s to register for a senior tour event and the the lawsuits start to fly.

[Tom_Doak]

I’m pretty sure if you were on the Titanic with Norman and there was only one seat left in the life boat that you better be a good swimmer.

Sharks don’t need lifeboats!


But sharks are the fate of the people who don’t get a lifeboat.

[Tim Martin]

I’m pretty sure if you were on the Titanic with Norman and there was only one seat left in the life boat that you better be a good swimmer.

Sharks don’t need lifeboats!


But sharks are the fate of the people who don’t get a lifeboat.

Touché

[Pat Burke]

I’m pretty sure if you were on the Titanic with Norman and there was only one seat left in the life boat that you better be a good swimmer.

He certainly has brought on this thinking with some of his actions, But for what it’s worth, my experiences with Greg were mostly different.  Not a ton of interaction, but he made a very nice effort to help me in a tough time in my playing career

[Kalen Braley]

Greg Norman has had F U money for quite a while now and with a current net worth of $400+ million, guessing he doesn't give 2 shits what others in the industry think of him at this point.

As for the Tour, I'm not interested in it, but I don't have a problem with it either...doubt many of the top players will bite anyways with the tournaments being played so far away.

[Bruce Katona]

You know the best thing about democracy and capitalism - it allows everyone to take a chance to see if their idea will work out financially.


Norman is a smart businessman - I'm sure his bets are all hedged.  If this does work, it a shot across the bow of the PGA & European Tours to smarten things up a bit.

[John Kavanaugh]

More people will be happy to see a new tour started than would miss the old one if it was gone. When swimming in shit the more watered down the better.

[Erik J. Barzeski]

Greg Norman has had F U money for quite a while now and with a current net worth of $400+ million, guessing he doesn't give 2 shits what others in the industry think of him at this point.

He'd (maybe?) care if it affects whether players would join under his leadership or not.

[Brian_Ewen]

...doubt many of the top players will bite anyways with the tournaments being played so far away.

LOL

[Kalen Braley]

Greg Norman has had F U money for quite a while now and with a current net worth of $400+ million, guessing he doesn't give 2 shits what others in the industry think of him at this point.

He'd (maybe?) care if it affects whether players would join under his leadership or not.

If they join that league, i'm pretty sure it won't be because Norman runs it.  Does anyone on the PGA tour play it because Jay is the commish? It would be about the money of course.

P.S.  Brian,  its one thing to play 1 or 2 events in the Middle East.  Its an entirely different thing to eschew the PGA Tour and tell your family you picking up and moving, or at least spending a significant amount of time over there.