LIV CEO Greg Norman’s Former Ties to QBE Shootout Open Up Recruiting Claims

Last December, Jason Kokrak and Kevin Na won the QBE Shootout, an unofficial money event on the PGA Tour that will become a mixed event with the LPGA in 2023.

The two posed with tournament organizer Greg Norman at the Gold Course he designed at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida. In fact, Norman helped organize this event, which was known as the Shark Shootout for many years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Greg Norman (@shark_gregnorman)

So you can determine if it’s a coincidence or not that both Na and Kokrak joined Norman’s LIV Golf league in 2022, along with 13 other golfers who participated in the 24-person event over the past two years.

The PGA Tour certainly isn’t ruling it out, as they asked tournament founder Norman not to attend in 2022.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Greg Norman (@shark_gregnorman)

A report in Golfweek detailed the 13 players who participated in the QBE Shootout in the last two years—along with five others who have played in it since 2016—who now play for Norman at LIV.

In addition to Na and Kokrak, last year’s participants include Marc Leishman, Graeme McDowell, Charles Howell III, Ian Poulter, Bubba Watson, and Hudson Swafford.

Others who participated in previous years include Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Cameron Smith, and Lee Westwood.

It’s believed that the PGA Tour’s countersuit against a LIV Golf antitrust lawsuit will uncover potential recruiting methods conducted by Norman at PGA Tour-related events, including allegations of doing so at the 2022 Masters.

Cover Image Via USA Today