Oh, Sharky, you’ve done it again … hook, line and sinker!

Weeks of speculation surrounding Greg Norman’s apparent involvement in a breakaway golf league that’s set to ‘rival’ the PGA Tour was confirmed overnight. The problem with the bombshell announcement, however, is that the speculation has only intensified. 

Cue the outrage!

News the World Golf Hall of Famer was officially named CEO of LIV Golf Investments, the upstart entity behind a new 10-event series on the Asian Tour that will debut in 2022 and feature tournaments in Asia, the Middle East and Europe was met with a swathe of media commentary. Respected golf writers in all corners of the globe shared their take on the announcement, educated or not. But the reality is this: nobody armed with a keyboard really knows anything about what Norman is planning… well, almost nobody.

It’s been reported only a handful of journalists were privy to discussions behind closed doors about Norman’s plans for the new-look Asian Tour, and what potential global expansion it could bring. But, incredibly, the ‘sources’ have come in thick and fast, and from far and wide.

The narrative in the mainstream media has been one of predictable consistency on such a sensitive topic: ‘blood money’, ‘egocentric’, ‘dirty power play’, an ‘act of revenge’ from Norman against the PGA Tour for that infamous World Tour snub in 1994… so much hostility yet very little substance.

The source of the outrage is – surprise, surprise – the source of the money. Norman revealed overnight that Public Investment Fund (PIF), the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia with total estimated assets of at least $500 billion, was an 80-percent shareholder in his new venture. PIF has funded a number of sporting events over the last half-decade or so, including marquee wrestling matches and tennis tournaments. It also recently bought Newcastle United Football Club in the English Premier League. But only now has its involvement in golf really challenged the moral high ground. 

What’s particularly interesting is there has been very little analysis on what Norman’s new venture could actually mean for the game in terms of growth and opportunity. And there’s been absolutely nothing written about the potential for another tour to actually co-exist with the PGA Tour, not necessarily pit itself against it. Perish the thought.

Of course, such coverage depends on the details made readily available to journalists, sure. But one suspects there’s a lot more to play out than just this revelation of a 10-event shot in the arm for the Asian Tour. Another league, in addition to the 10 new events mentioned – as is the latest murmur doing the rounds – has many believing players would be crazy to give it one second of their consideration. The assumption is they’d sacrifice their spots in the Majors, among other events, by taking part. It couldn’t be further from the truth based on what we currently know as fact. As one insider told Australian Golf Digest, “the Majors are ‘Switzerland’ when it comes to the tours.” 

As for the whole Norman-vs-PGA Tour narrative, it’s a little overcooked. Why would ‘war’ necessarily have to be declared between Norman and the PGA Tour? Why could players not bounce between job sites, as independent contractors, as opposed to having to draw a line in the sand? One suspects the answer to that lies with the PGA Tour, not Norman.

Of course, what all of this means for Australia’s weakened position on the world golf map hasn’t been disclosed, at least not publicly. But in sheer geographical terms, we know Asia is a lot closer to home than the United States. It therefore stands to reason things can’t get much worse than our current predicament on the tournament scene. Ask any local Australasian Tour pro how they’re spending the summer and the answer will be short and swift, much like their playing schedules.

Golf is full of cynics. On the back of a global health pandemic, now is the time for optimism. That’s not naivety speaking. It’s a call for patience and execution – the very things golf grades all of us on. Maybe we’ll all be better equipped to cast judgement if we allow things to play out and see where we are in a few hours, days, weeks or months?

“Mysteries abound where most we seek for answers,” said American screenwriter and author Ray Bradbury, who had a fascination for horror and science fiction. 

Golf’s latest headline act needn’t be the horror show many are predicting.

If there’s one thing we can all take from this peek behind the curtain, it’s that Norman’s reign as No.1 for sending media into a frenzy still dwarfs those 331 weeks he wielded a golf club like no other.

Strap yourselves in, folks!