LIV Golf boss Greg Norman says “an extended record” of gamers wish to be part of the insurgent tour, as Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson on Wednesday conceded it will profit from extra depth.
Norman, who’s getting ready for the Saudi-backed circuit’s first occasion in his Australian homeland this week, stated a few of the names would “shock” individuals.
“We’ve received an extended record of gamers who wish to are available in, we simply do not have the flexibility right this moment as a result of gamers are beneath contract,” he instructed NewsCorp Australia, with out giving names.
“But we’ll get to a place the place there will probably be a relegation collection and locations will begin opening up.
“It’s unbelievable the quantity of gamers who wish to come on board,” he added. “It would shock you the way good these names are.”
Bankrolled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, LIV cut up the golf world final yr by luring away high stars from the US PGA Tour and DP World Tour (previously the European Tour) with profitable contracts to its 54-hole, no-cut experiment.
Now in its second season, it has confronted resistance from traditionalists and struggled for credibility within the United States, particularly.
Campaigners accuse Saudi Arabia of “sportswashing” — utilizing sport to deflect from its human rights report, together with the homicide and dismembering of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate in 2018.
But LIV seems to be to have been embraced by some Australians, with tickets promoting out for this week’s occasion in Adelaide.
Koepka, runner-up on the Masters two weeks in the past, and present British Open champion Cameron Smith are among the many high names who’ve defected to LIV.
They headline the motion at The Grange Golf Club this week.
Phil Mickelson, who tied for second with Koepka at Augusta, and Dustin Johnson additionally jumped ship to LIV, as did Patrick Reed, who completed fourth on the Masters.
– Lack of depth? –
Koepka stated he had not spoken to any gamers about making the transfer to LIV as a result of it was “not my model”.
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But he added: “I’m certain there is a bunch of men who’re nonetheless trying to come over, whether or not that be faculty gamers, youthful gamers, to guys who’ve performed on the PGA Tour and the DP Tour.
“And sure, you possibly can at all times add depth to something — the stronger we get, the higher we’re.”
Two-time main winner Johnson agreed that extra star energy could be useful.
“Obviously the higher gamers we have now taking part in the stronger LIV will get and it is higher for the sport,” he stated.
LIV at present has 12 groups of 4 gamers every and Koepka stated there was room for maybe two or three extra groups.
But he didn’t wish to see the variety of LIV occasions enhance from its present 14.
Fellow American and main winner Bryson DeChambeau stated subject sizes was “up for dialogue”, however extra progress was inevitable.
“How massive can the league be? As massive as it may be. We’re trying to make this the largest league on the market, and I do not say that softly, both,” he stated.
“I believe all of us see the imaginative and prescient. We see the potential with the groups and the franchises and all that.
“We assume this might ultimately be the norm for the sport of golf.”
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