LIV Golf: Former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher feels that LIV Golf is hurting the competition and that its “confrontational” CEO Greg Norman is not the right person to mediate any potential agreements with the traditional tours.
The Ryder Cup in Rome the following year will not be open to players who left the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf.
As a result of his participation in the Saudi-sponsored breakaway, Henrik Stenson lost his position as captain.
Bernard Gallacher, who led Europe in 1991, 1993, and 1995, thinks the PGA Tour and DP World Tour can “weather the storm” for the time being, but that if LIV Golf’s seemingly limitless resources continue to draw in more players, a solution will have to be reached.
“If more and more money keeps getting pumped into LIV Golf, then more golfers will join, simple as that,” said Gallacher – who is an ambassador for Golf Care.
“The traditional Tours won’t be able to compete.
“We’re in a tricky position now where major champions are switching to LIV Golf and hence potentially not being able to defend their crowns. It’s undermining and devaluing golfing competitions on both sides of the Atlantic,” he added.
“If things continue as they are, major championships will look completely different in years to come, and we must collectively ask ourselves if that’s really what we want.
“A conversation needs to be had and a compromise reached. I’m not entirely convinced that Greg Norman is the man to have that conversation.
“I think some see him as quite a confrontational character, and you can see why.
“I’ve known Greg for many years and have played with him several times. He’s a very ambitious, savvy businessman but I think he’s always had an alternative vision for golf, which has now come to fruition in the form of LIV.
“Greg is a really aggressive person. His whole personality isn’t conducive to having lots of friends, but we know he doesn’t give a damn.
“Greg Norman is not the person in charge who should be accommodating to the PGA and European Tours, in my opinion.
“He’s upset the apple cart and ruffled quite a few feathers already and LIV Golf is still in its infancy. It’s only going to get worse.”
