LIV Golf CEO GREG NORMAN is in hot water for comments made about murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Khashoggi was cut into pieces with a bone saw on the orders of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince in 2018 after entering the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul.
In November 2018, the CIA concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered Khashoggi's assassination.
The 67-year-old faced a slew of questions from reporters about sports washing and human rights during a media day at Centurion Club near St Albans.
He was then asked about Khashoggi's murder saying “we’ve all made mistakes”.
Astonishing comment by Greg Norman about Jamal Khashoggi murder by the Saudis: "We've all made mistakes and you just want to learn from those mistakes and how you can correct them going forward." Story by @ricktimes : https://t.co/368YfmznXo
— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) May 11, 2022
“This whole thing about Saudi Arabia and Khashoggi and human rights; talk about it, but also talk about the good that the country is doing in changing its culture,” Norman said.
“Look, we’ve all made mistakes and you just want to learn from those mistakes and how you can correct them going forward.”
He was also asked about the execution of 81 men in Saudi Arabia in March and having any prior meeting with Mohammed Bin Salman and added:
"I haven't had a personal conversation with MBS, I've never met the guy, but at the same time I do read that the Saudi government has made their statements and comments about it and they want to move forward."
Yesterday the PGA tour refused to release players for the breakaway LIV Golf Invitational Series funded by the Saudis.
Norman released a statement claiming the Tour's action is 'anti-golfer, anti-fan, and anti-competitive.'
The eight-event series offering a $255 million total prize purse will hold five tournaments in the United States and three internationally, including the curtain raiser in London starting June 9th.
Norman also said on Monday he has been given an extra $2billion in funding from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund to build the series of eight events into a full 14-event league by 2024.
Greg Norman has fired back at the PGA Tour, calling it:
-an "illegal monopoly"
-"anti-golfer, anti-fan, and anti-competitive"
He adds: "we will not be stopped." pic.twitter.com/JMmLKMeQ5D— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) May 11, 2022
