[PHOTOS: David Cannon]
A three-time Masters runner-up, it looks like Greg Norman was denied once again at Augusta National. This time off the course.
The LIV Golf chief executive and World Golf Hall of Famer was spotted at Augusta National’s Par-3 Contest on Wednesday, walking outside the ropes, watching a few LIV golfers dial in their short irons. It was a bit of a shock to fellow patrons and viewers at home after Norman, a two-time Open champion, did not receive an invitation to the major in 2023 that is customarily given to past major champions.
Masters 2024: ‘The boss is here rooting for you,’ says Greg Norman on visit to Augusta National
“We did not extend an invitation to Mr Norman,” Fred Ridley said last year. “The primary issue… I want the focus this week to be on the Masters competition, on the great players that are participating, the greatest players in the world, which, by our decision in December, we ensured that we were going to honour and be consistent with our invitation criteria.”
It was initially unclear how the Shark made his way inside the gates this year, but his son, Greg Norman Jnr, took to social media on Thursday to explain.
Yes. All this is true.
My dad paid for a ticket on the secondary market to attend the Masters as a patron. He was denied one directly after going through the proper professional channels. He had to be there anyway to support the LIV players.
It was an amazing experience;… pic.twitter.com/Yt5Uk9r7nG
— Greg Norman Jr (@GregJrNorman) April 11, 2024
“Yes. All this is true,” Greg Norman Jnr posted. “My dad paid for a ticket on the secondary market to attend the Masters as a patron. He was denied one directly after going through the proper professional channels. He had to be there anyway to support the LIV players.
“It was an amazing experience; hundreds of golf fans approached him walking outside the ropes. All positive support of him and LIV. Not one person said anything negative to him.
“And this is exactly the point of me posting this: we have received a lot of hate over the years, but this stems from financially incentivised opposing parties or bottom-of-the-barrel sociopathic online trolls. The vast majority of folks we run into are positive, encouraging, fans of LIV, or simply fans of golf.
“So, in light of this, here’s to an epic Masters. Four days where we put all the BS behind us, sit back, and watch a LIV player take the green jacket.”
The Washington Post reported this further stating that Norman “didn’t bother waiting for an invitation and came to the course with a pair of LIV executives through the main gate”. Asked about an invitation for Norman by Golf Digest, Augusta National declined to comment.
Greg Norman went on to say that he hopes more of the golfers from the Saudi-backed league get invites to the Masters, and that he’s pulling for one of his LIV players to put on a green jacket after 72 holes. Imagine selling your tickets online and the buyer turns out to be the Shark. Some unlucky sap out there has definitely drawn Augusta National’s ire.
“I’m here because we have 13 players but won 10 Masters between them,” Norman said from Augusta. “So I’m just here to support them, do the best I can to show them, ‘Hey, the boss is here rooting for you.’”
