LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman mentioned Wednesday he’s open-minded concerning the concept of transferring to a conventional 72-hole format, although he defined that the Saudi-backed circuit would wish to guage the influence of including an additional spherical to its 54-hole, no-cut occasions.
Former Masters and U.S. Open champion Jon Rahm, who introduced his resolution to depart the PGA Tour and be a part of LIV in December, has mentioned he hoped LIV would transfer to a 72-hole format, as it will assist unite the excursions.
Norman mentioned at a information convention Wednesday forward of LIV’s occasion in Adelaide, Australia, that they had been open to the thought of adjusting the format however famous there was an “financial influence about placing tv on for 72 holes.”
“It is a terrific dialog to have,” he mentioned. “We are going to proceed to have that dialog going ahead. However we sit again and say, what worth can we get on placing on tv on Thursday? How can we construct out sooner or later?
“There are issues that we sit again and take a look at to see what’s the most optimum answer to make this a greater and higher and higher occasion, and 72 holes is mentioned.”
Norman additionally dismissed a report that was printed earlier this month by a London newspaper stating that LIV had made an $850 million provide to Rory McIlroy. “That is simply typical white noise that will get on the market within the trade,” Norman mentioned.
McIlroy himself denied the report, saying neither he nor his brokers have ever mentioned a possible deal to lure him to the LIV Golf League, which is being financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund (PIF).
Rahm, talking alongside Norman at Wednesday’s information convention, mentioned there was a “degree of consolation” in enjoying 72 holes however that any resolution to vary the format needed to make enterprise sense.
“On the finish of the day, LIV is a enterprise,” Rahm mentioned. “If it would not match the product, it would not match the product.
“I am only a participant. There’s lots of people which might be so much smarter than me that may determine it out and clarify why they consider 54 holes could also be higher for them.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
