Who is Greg Norman

plus how much do LIV Tucson tickets cost and why isn't my course easier?

Author

Sean Miller
March 06, 2023

Welcome to LIVbreathegolf the newsletter that goes together likes Reeses Peanut Butter Cups and potato chips (it’s a thing… check it out)

What we’re teeing up for you today:

  • Who is Greg Norman

  • Player Profile - Dean Burmester

  • How much do LIV Tucson tickets cost

  • I wish my course was “less penal” when I miss

Greg Norman - The Shark, The Golfer, Possibly Woody Harrelson

Greg Norman (left) vs. Woody Harrelson (right)

Before you start reading this, sit back and think. What has been my most difficult professional struggle.

If you asked me I would say speaking a dissenting opinion against a majority is up there.

Standing up is not easy. Acting against a system is scary. There is often a lot to lose.

Well a shark doesn’t give a f***.

That’s right, we are going to see how Greg Norman had the golf balls to go against the norm, and create what players have been asking for since the 80’s.

Oh, and also it is pretty funny that he looks like Woody Harrelson. Although I guess you could say he is in a sort of hunger games…

Greg Norman

Is the CEO of the LIV Golf League. Not an easy job, starting an entire professional sports league.

How did he get here?

  • 331 weeks as world number 1 golfer

  • 89 professional tournament wins

  • 20 PGA tournament wins

  • 2 Major wins

  • Nicknamed “The Great White Shark” or just “The Shark” in reference to his blonde hair, size, and aggressive play

  • Now owns over 10 companies and has become a great “golf entrepreneur

Some Quotes

Ah, 100 percent. And it is the biggest thing to ever happen to the game of golf in over 53 years. And when you think back over time, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus and a few others broke away from the P.G.A. of America to start the P.G.A. Tour. Why did they do that? They do it as players, right? For their independent rights — to compete. So this is no different than what we’re doing today. We’re just giving more competition. We’re getting additional pathways for players to go play. They’re independent contractors. We’ve created probably some generational wealth, for some of these players. So at the end of the day, we just identified virgin space. We are starting a franchise model in golf that’s never ever been thought of before, let alone done. And why has this been possible? If you look across all sports, around the globe sports have become an asset class. And private equity and equity has been invested into many of these sports. So what happened with golf? We had an investor who wanted to come in and unlock this virgin space. So it’s the first time in golf that it’s had an injection of close to $2-plus billion committed to it to create this new competition, create this new format, create a new fandom, create new excitement for the people who come to our golf tournaments, and reach down to a new audience.

Greg Norman

So Why LIV Golf

A huge problem with LIV is that it is the “Saudi Golf League”. But that is only half the truth.

Yes, there is a significant amount of money coming from Saudi Arabia that has enabled LIV to happen. That doesn’t mean it is the whole story.

The last quote up there shows the Greg Norman has a real passion for the game of golf as well as the players.

There is a reason that Norman is the one that took this on.

He saw these issues when he was a player. They still weren’t fixed. Now he is an entrepreneur. Let’s fix them with a new league.

I tried to make a bit of a change back in ’93, ’94 with the world tour and again ran into the same headwinds back then as what we’re running into now. So they don’t like change. They don’t like competition.

Greg Norman

Where the money comes from is a different story. But what is evident is there is a former player with the tenacity (he’s a shark goddammit) to go against the flow. And to convince other guys to go against the flow (@PhilMickleson).

Greg wants to further golf. And what Greg wants he is going to go after.

The Current Players Agree

“I love the new changes. I could rant on this for awhile, which I might,”

Max Homa

To see what’s happened today on the P.G.A. Tour, since LIV came onto the scene, a massive amount of capital was injected back into the players on, on the P.G.A. Tour. So, be honest with you, the players on the P.G.A. Tour should be giving a standing ovation to LIV, the league, and the players for stimulating this new injection of money.

Greg Norman

This is just a snippet. Event the guys on NoLayingUp podcast, who are (ahem very very very) extremely against LIV Golf said that the changes coming to golf probably would not have happened as quickly if it weren’t for LIV.

Admittedly, not everyone is happy with the new changes, but the ones that you turn on the T.V. to watch for the most part are.

What Will Greg Do Next?

I don’t know if LIV will end up being successful. There is certainly a lot that goes into that.

One thing I do know though. I’m never betting against a Shark to eat.

Norman has already made a mark on professional golf through the changes that we are seeing everyday. And he is going to keep pushing.

Greg Norman riding a bike at LIV Mayakoba - via getty images

Player Profile - Dean Burmester

A lot of sports earn followings from loyalty to geographic locations, colleges, etc… This is your chance to learn about the LIV golfers and find who you connect with.

Dean has been a pro since 2010, and he is still ranked in the top 100 per the OWGR. He has played mostly internationally and brings a competitive edge to the Stinger GC.

Dean Burmester with some of the best club head covers we’ve seen

  • Age - 33

  • Birthplace - Zimbabwe

  • Plays From - Republic of South Africa

  • Turned Pro - 2010

  • Joined LIV - 2023

  • LIV Team - Stinger GC

  • OWGR - 66th

Chart

See You in Tucson

LIV Golf League - Tucson Event Prices

It is actually super affordable if you just want to go and watch golf.

If you want to go PLAY golf with a pro then that is a different story… but pretty freaking awesome.

Are you planning on going to any LIV Golf events this year? Reply to this email and let us know!

If you want to buy tickets to LIV Tucson then here you go: https://www.tixr.com/groups/livgolf/events/liv-golf-tucson-56706

Breakfast Balls

(Click on the links for more info)

Phil Mickelson has some “good stuff” out there for you to try. Wonder if it makes you golf like a lefty?

Rory McIlroy wants Bay Hill to be “a little less penal when you miss”. Me too Rory… me too. (Also, probably says the word penal too many times for tv…)

Meme of the Day

“She doesn’t even go here!”

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For sharing you get…something???

Is my undying gratitude enough? If people actually start reading this maybe you will get a sticker or a trip to the LIV Golf finals or something… who knows. For now, just know that I love you.

Bogey, bogey, par, birdie, par, par, bogey, birdie, par...