The feud between the two richest powers in golf continues. A few days after Tiger Woods echoed Rory McIlroy’s sentiment that Greg Norman needs to be removed at the CEO of LIV Golf before LIV and the PGA Tour can peacefully coexist, Norman retaliated with some fire remarks of his own. In an exclusive interview with Today’s Golfer, Norman offered up a rebuttal for Woods and McIlroy.

“I pay zero attention to McIlroy and Woods, right?,” Norman said. “They have their agenda for whatever reason. They’re saying whatever they want to say. It has no bearing or effect on me. I’m going to be with LIV for a long, long period of time.

“When the monopolist’s territory is getting threatened, they’re going to rear their ugly head up and do what they do. But from my whole perspective, I’ve always taken the high road this year. I will continue to take the high road because I believe in our business model. I believe in our people, I believe in the players’ independent rights, and we’ve already seen a dramatic shift in our audience.”

Norman’s response stems from Woods backing up his friend McIlroy leading up to the Hero World Challenge event he hosts annually in the Bahamas last week. 

“I think Greg has to go, first of all,” Woods said. “Then obviously litigation against us and then our countersuit against them, those would then have to be at a stay as well. So then we can talk, we can all talk freely.”

Woods reiterated his feelings later in the press conference. 

“Right now as it is, not right now, not with their leadership, not with Greg there and his animosity towards the Tour itself,” Woods said about potential peace talks. “I don’t see that happening. As Rory said, and I said it as well, I think Greg’s got to leave and then we can eventually, hopefully, have a stay between the two lawsuits and figure something out.”

McIlroy, who has said something very similar to Woods about Norman needing to be ousted, might take exception to Norman’s comment about taking the high road. He told a story recently to Paul Kimmage of the Independent about how he and Norman had a nice conversation about Norman’s career struggles at Augusta National and more or less made amends on everything. Then, it went sour.

“Then, a couple of weeks later, he does an interview with The Washington Post and says I’ve been ‘brainwashed by the PGA Tour’,” said McIlroy. “I’m like ‘For f**k sake!’ We’ve had this really nice back-and-forth and he says that about me. I thought, ‘You know what? I’m going to make it my business now to be as much of a pain in his arse as possible.'”

There have been rumors in recent weeks that Norman will be stepping aside as LIV CEO. Whether that actually happens remains to be seen, but it’s clear that there is disdain for him from the most important folks on the other side.

“I am not going anywhere,” Norman said. “I don’t care what anybody says. I’m not going anywhere. I am so proud of the position I am in and maybe, maybe, it’s my leadership that has them scared. Maybe…”

Maybe.

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The 2023 Ryder Cup press tour officially began earlier this week as U.S. captain Zach Johnson and European captain Luke Donald made their way through Italy’s capital city visiting various sites and attractions. On Tuesday, the photoshoots and fun were put on hold as a press conference awaited the two headmen in Rome.

Each were posed with questions regarding how host course Marco Simone may play next fall, and more importantly what the composition of their teams may be. While away from the public eye since the 150th Open, Tiger Woods’ potential participation with the U.S. team in the Ryder Cup was brought into question for the American leader.

“Given who he is and what he’s all about, I can’t tell you right now: I don’t know if he will be here next year, but he will be a part of this team in some capacity,” said Johnson. “He already is, frankly. I can’t put this mildly: He loves the Ryder Cup. He has made it a priority. He wants to be a part of it as best he can. He’s gone through some things as of late that make it difficult, whether it’s travel or what-have-you.”

Woods was last a member of the 2018 U.S. Ryder Cup team in Paris, France, which endured a 17.5 – 10.5 defeat at the hands of the Europeans. The 15-time major champion accumulated a record of 0-4-0 playing alongside Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed in the team portion of the event and fell to Jon Rahm in Sunday singles.

This, however, was not Woods’ last involvement in a team competition; he thrived a year later at the 2019 Presidents Cup as a playing captain. Woods led his team to a come-from-behind victory at Royal Melbourne and was perfect on the week with a 3-0-0 record.

He has since moved in the shadows the last two years. Delivering an inspiring speech to Team USA ahead of the final day of the 2021 Ryder Cup and, more recently, imparting wisdom to Davis Love III for the 2022 Presidents Cup, the 46-year-old’s presence — while not seen — has been felt by the Americans.

Whether he takes on a vice captain’s role remains to be seen, but Johnson all but confirmed Woods will be involved with the U.S. team for the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome.

“He and I will be in constant communication,” Johnson said. “I will welcome that. He has great ideas. Has great encouragement. He’s always positive, and you know, the beauty of where we are as Team USA is we have got some really great youth that are participating now at a high level.”

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It’s obvious how near and dear the sport of golf is to our current president. It’s nearly impossible to be involved in the golfing community without seeing Trump splayed across course signage and news headlines. But, The Donald isn’t the first Commander-in-Chief to take charge of his golf game.

It’s easier to list the presidents who didn’t play. (Teddy Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman, and Jimmy Carter, were the only non-golfing ones, according to The Atlantic.) And when political leaders tee up, they’re just like us. They get excited over a great lie and they get business done. Golf breaks down political walls. Leaders get to talk golfer-to-golfer rather than leader-to-leader with sand traps being the most intimidating enemy out there.

But golfing while in-office is a double-edged sword. Play too much and the public thinks you have an absentee leader; play too little and you’re somewhat unrelatable. Ronald Reagan was known for counting every single stroke in a play – no gives – and Barack Obama was extremely personable. On the other hand, Eisenhower was notorious for improving his lie in order to “identify his ball.”

However, golf continues to play a large role in the realm of decision making. In fact, it’s pretty unavoidable when the president himself owns 17 courses.

So, we’ll continue to listen with perked ears and bated breath, in the spirit of competition, of course! Because while Trump’s handicap of 2.8 may be a little tough to hit, Obama’s reported 13, George W. Bush’s and Clinton’s 10 since leaving office, and Ronald Reagan’s healthy 12 are great numbers to beat!

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