Norman "Saudi Super Golf League Smooth Sailing"... Watson and Kevin Na 'Rumored to Join New Tour'

by Roh Woolae

Published 13 Apr.2022 16:38(KST)

In Telegraph Interview "Participants to Be Announced Soon," European Powerhouses Westwood and Poulter Expected to Compete

Greg Norman, CEO of LIV Golf Investments, which operates the Super Golf League led by the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ‘Bubba Watson, Kevin Na (both from the United States), Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter (both from England).’

These are the players expected to participate in the Super Golf League (SGL), led by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF). Greg Norman, known as the ‘Great White Shark of Australia’ and CEO of LIV Golf Investments, which operates the new golf tour, said in an interview with the UK Telegraph on the 13th (Korean time), "Discussions are underway for players with major championship wins to join," adding, "We hope to announce the participating players soon."

The newspaper predicted, "Watson, Poulter, Westwood, and Kevin Na are expected to be the players joining the SGL." Watson is a player who won the Masters in 2012 and 2014. Poulter, Westwood, and Kevin Na have no major wins but are considered world-class players. The SGL plans to hold its first tournament in the UK on June 9 with a total prize fund of $20 million (2.45 billion KRW), and conduct eight tournaments by October. It will be a three-round event with 48 players competing without a cut-off.

The winner’s prize money is $4 million (490 million KRW). Last week, the Masters winner’s prize was $2.7 million (330 million KRW). However, the PGA Tour and DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) have banned their affiliated players from participating in the new tour, making conflict inevitable. Norman emphasized, "Our plans are proceeding as scheduled, and we are now approaching the first tournament," adding, "This achievement is not for me but for the players."

Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau (both from the United States), Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), and others have expressed their intention to focus on the PGA Tour. McIlroy downplayed the situation, saying, "It will be difficult to fill the 48 spots for the SGL, so Norman might have to play himself." However, Norman rebutted, "Contrary to some rumors, player recruitment is already underway," reassuring players by saying, "The PGA Tour’s policy to expel players who participate in the new tour has no legal basis."