[IMAGE: PGA of Australia]
Australia’s best golfer will continue to be awarded the Greg Norman Medal despite the possibility of the Australian legend’s disruptive LIV Golf Series potentially going head-to-head with Australia’s biggest events in the future.
The future of the award – presented annually to the country’s top-performing golfer – was brought into question recently due to Norman’s lead role in LIV Golf – a start-up tour majority-funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Norman is the tour’s CEO and commissioner, which has divided the golf world by recruiting high-profile players with lucrative contracts and lighter playing schedules.
Adding further irony to the situation in his homeland is Norman’s tour has reportedly signed Australia’s World No.2 and Open champion Cameron Smith, one of two standout favourites, along with Women’s US Open champion Minjee Lee, to win this year’s gong. Smith is yet to confirm or deny the rumours.
Speaking with select Australian golf media following Thursday’s announcement of the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia Summer of Golf schedule, PGA of Australia boss Gavin Kirkman confirmed Norman’s name, despite the obvious sensitivities, would remain on the medal.
“The Greg Norman Medal for 2022 commenced at the start of the year. To change the name of a medal mid-season, I don’t think that’s appropriate,” says Kirkman.
“When Greg was asked to put his name to that medal, it went through a lot of work via the board of the PGA of Australia, including many of our life members. A lot of names were put up for it but Greg’s name was put on that medal based on his playing achievements and for what he did for Australian golf, which included 331 weeks as world No.1. (Removing his name) is not what we’re looking at doing and I don’t think we will do it.”
The latest developments follow revelations that LIV Golf is set to give Australia three big tournaments next year as it looks to establish a foothold Down Under via its $US300 million partnership with the Asian Tour.
Sources have told Australian Golf Digest the start-up series has made plans to bring two International Series events – a lucrative miniseries within the Asian Tour – to Australia in addition to the LIV Golf League event in Sydney in April. It means LIV Golf recruits – such as multiple Major champions Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson – will have opportunities to play in more than one event while in Australia.
