Opinion: Greg Norman’s legacy is as a great player rather than as a great executive

Greg Norman (with his children in 1986) (Wikimedia Commons)

Greg Norman of Mount Isa City, Australia is done with the LIV Tour according to Rogers Sportsnet on Thursday. Norman was initially hired as the first LIV Chief Executive Officer in 2021, and held the position for four years before being replaced by Scott O’Neil in January. We do not know exactly what Norman’s role with the LIV Tour over the last six months. We do know Norman’s time with LIV ended in August.

While Norman has held various roles connected to golf in recent years (also tried to launch the World Golf Tour in the 1990s, launched his own wine, sunglasses and clothing company, and was a head golf analyst on FOX Sports in the United States), it should be on the golf course that should define Norman’s outstanding legacy. An impact player in his prime, Norman won the 1986 and 1993 British Open, and was first in the world for 331 weeks. That is the second most weeks all-time. Only Tiger Woods has been first in the world for more weeks. Woods was number one for 683 weeks.

Who could forget Norman’s silver hair in his later years as he marched around the gold course, frequently in contention? You could make the argument he is the best Australian male golfer ever. He won 20 times on the PGA Tour, 14 times on the European Tour, twice on the Japanese Tour, and 33 times on the PGA Tour of Australasia.

It was at Turnberry where Norman won his first British Open nearly 40 years ago. He posted a score of even, and beat his closest competitor, Gordon Brand of England, by five strokes. Then at the British Open seven years later, Norman had a winning score of -13 at Royal St. George’s, and beat England’s Nick Faldo by two strokes.

The LIV Tour has not been around a long time. The verdict is still out on its level of popularity now and the future. Norman will forever be linked to the LIV Tour, but his golf success on the course is what should define him in his contributions to the game.