Rory McIlroy Calls Out Greg Norman, Takes Dig at LIV’s OWGR Troubles

In a press conference ahead of this week’s DP World Tour Championship event in Dubai, Rory McIlroy—as usual—had some things to say about LIV Golf and its CEO Greg Norman.

McIlroy, who can become the first golfer to win the FedEx Cup and the season-long DP World Tour title in the same calendar year, has been one of the most vocal critics of the divisiveness that’s currently permeated the professional golf game over the past year.

He’s taken more of a conciliatory tone recently, calling for the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to get together to find common ground.

In Dubai on Tuesday, McIlroy didn’t mince words in saying that Norman needs to go if the sides are going to work on building a relationship.

Rory McIlroy says Greg Norman must quit LIV to end ‘stalemate’ in men’s game for ⁦@BBCSport⁩ https://t.co/8uglX8bIQU

— Iain Carter (@iaincartergolf) November 15, 2022

McIlroy said:

“I think Greg [Norman] needs to go, he needs to exit stage left. Look, he’s made his mark but now is the right time to say, ‘Look, you’ve got this thing [LIV Golf] off the ground, but nobody is going to talk unless there is an adult in the room who can actually try to mend fences.’”

The comments come at a time when a report came out last week that intimated Norman could be replaced as LIV CEO by former TaylorMade boss Mark King. LIV officials within the Saudi Arabian government denied the report.

McIlroy also took the opportunity to throw a dagger at LIV’s thus-far unsuccessful attempts to get Official World Golf Ranking points. In response to a question about the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic offering more points than the Dubai event, the world’s No. 1 golfer responded that the Georgia tournament deserves to have more points awarded because more golfers are competing in that tournament than the limited-field, no-cut event in Dubai.

He then slung this arrow:

“I think you’ll see a fairer reflection of where everyone is ranked in the world… that is eligible to be ranked; I have to add that caveat.”

Cover Image Via YouTube & YouTube