No plans to axe Greg Norman Medal despite his ties to rebel golf league
The Greg Norman Medal will remain as officials rule out any knee-jerk reaction to the golfing great’s involvement with a Saudi-backed breakaway league.
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman joins Phil Mickelson of the United States on the first tee during the first round of the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational at the Centurion Club. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Norman taking on the role of CEO and the face of LIV Golf has been widely condemned around the world as the rebel tour continues to divide the sport.
But PGA Chairman of Australia Gavin Kirkman says Norman’s name will continue to be aligned with the country’s most outstanding player of the year.
“The Greg Norman Medal for 2022 commenced at the start of the year so (for) all the players – men and women – that’s an honour now that we’ve had going for six years,” Kirkman said.
“So to change the name of a medal mid-season, I don’t think that’s appropriate and no one’s going to win there.
“When Greg was asked to put his name to that medal, it went through a lot of work by the board of the PGA. It had some of our great life members involved because there were a lot of names that got put up.
“We went and spoke to so many (people) and my predecessors and former chair of the PGA so Greg was awarded his name on that medal based on his playing achievements.”
The issue is polarising opinions in a way not dissimilar to the manner in which campaigners lobbied to have Margaret Court’s name removed from a show court at Melbourne Park because of the tennis legend and devout Christian’s stance against homosexuality and same-sex marriage.
At this stage, like tennis officials, Australian golf’s hierarchy won’t be swayed against Norman and having his name on the medal that will almost certainly be shared this year by major winners and world No.2s Minjee Lee and Cameron Smith.
“He has the best achievements with major wins, what he did for Australian golf for 15 years – 331 weeks as world No.1,” Kirkman said.
“So to change the name of a medal midway through a season, I don’t think that’s what we’re looking at doing and I don’t think we will do it.
“Nothing will change.”