Should Brooks Koepka take his red-hot LIV form to the Masters this week, he could be cheered on by 17 of his fellow converts on the 18th hole at Augusta next Sunday.
LIV Golf Commissioner Greg Norman has stated that this is what his players told him they would do if any of their cohorts, including Australian star Cameron Smith and former champions including Dustin Johnson, won the green jacket.
The presence of the 18 LIV players, who have been suspended from the PGA Tour, in Augusta dominated the lead-in and Norman, in Orlando, where Koepka will take a three-shot lead into finals day, explained the TV ratings of a Sunday’s showdown between Rory McIlroy and “one of my guys” would be unlike anything golf has ever seen.
Creating an us-versus-them mentality in the majors was never part of the LIV plan for Norman, who said the organizers of the four major championships “should have always been Switzerland” and remained neutral amid ongoing disputes. lawsuits between LIV players and the PGA Tour and a world rankings blackout that could affect their continued qualification.
But after causing disruption to the game, Norman said there was no denying how much energy a showdown on Sunday could create.
LIV Golf founder Greg Norman has revealed there will be a VERY pointy celebration if one of his players manages to win the Masters this week
Brooks Koepka was brilliant in last week’s LIV Invitational in Orlando, winning by a sparkling -15
Aussie cult hero Cameron Smith is one of the other players from the LIV stable who could be in contention for a Masters victory, and is the fourth betting favorite
“I compliment the Masters by letting the players play because now they have the best field and they are basically the real Super Bowl now,” Norman told NCA NewsWire on Saturday.
“But if I’m the Masters now, on Sunday I would want DJ or Brooks or Cam, one of the guys against Rory (McIlroy) and Jon Rahm. Can you imagine what the TV ratings would look like?
It’s what people want, it’s what TV wants. The ratings will be much higher than any other ratings if you let Rory play one of our top performers.’
Norman is convinced his “boys” will also compete for the green jacket, having rigged up the greens at the Orange County National Golf Club to help them prepare.
But he pointed to the predicted wet weather in Augusta that may also play into the hands of guys like Smith, Johnson and Koepka.
“They’re so focused. We’ve got these green speeds right now around 13, they’ll be a little faster tomorrow, so they’re working their way into next week, but next week it’s going to be a washout,” Norman said.
“The golf course is softening and suits some of my guys. It will be a large, long-carry golf course. You know, Cam carries the ball a long way, DJ, so does Brooks.”
Brooks Koepka (Smash GC captain) wins the LIV Golf Invitational Trophy in Orlando on April 2
Greg Norman said it would be very special to see a LIV golfer win golf’s most legendary tournament
And should that lead to a win, according to Norman, whoever is on the 18th green could have a LIV cheer squad to support them, an image that Australian legend said ‘gives me goosebumps’.
“There’s talk all over our teams here, there’s 18 or us LIV guys at Augusta and if one of the guys, no matter who it is, they’re all going to be there on the 18th green, they’re all going to be there, and that just gives me goosebumps to think about,” he said.
“When you’re 18, your caddy hugs you and then you see your wife or your mom and dad. Now that we have 17 other guys there, that’s the spirit we want,” he said.
That’s what those guys are talking about. They say no matter who wins, no matter who is in that position, we will be there.
“And that just gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.”