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Rory McIlroy says he ‘dealt with being a pain in the ass to Greg Norman’ after LIV Golf boss’s ‘brainwashing’ barb and reveals how his friendship with defector Sergio Garcia soured
Rory McIlroy has revealed that Greg Norman’s comments in which the LIV Golf CEO called him “brainwashing” by PGA Tour bosses were the catalyst for his war of words.
The Australian has been the polarizing head, acting as CEO and commissioner, of the Saudi-backed tour and has drawn criticism from Tour frontmen including Tiger Woods and McIlroy.
Following Norman’s disparaging comment, the Northern Irishman decided to become a thorn in the LIV boss’s side.
“I thought, ‘You know what? I’m going to make my business now as pain in his ass as possible,” McIlroy told the Irish independent.
The LIV Golf and the Tour de Norman have been involved in a sporting civil war since the former’s conception.
Rory McIlroy has detailed why he’s become a thorn in LIV CEO Greg Norman’s side.
Although there was a time when McIlroy extended a peace offer of sorts after watching a documentary about Norman’s infamous collapse at the 1996 Masters.
“I hope it reminds everyone what a great golfer you were,” McIlroy’s caption read.
Norman had sent an equally kind message to the 33-year-old after his own meltdown at the Masters eleven years ago.
“It was great,” McIlroy said. So I said, “Seeing it reminded me of how you contacted me in 2011, and I just want to say that I will always cherish it.” It meant a lot. I know our views on the game of golf right now are very different, but I just wanted to let you know and wish you all the best.”
Greg Norman sparked the war of words with the Northern Irishman after calling him ‘brainwashed’
So, a bit of an olive branch, and he immediately responded: “I really believe that golf can be a force for good around the world… I know our opinions don’t align, but I’m just trying to create more opportunities for all golfers in the world”.
‘Penalty fee. Really nice,’ McIlroy replied. “Then a couple of weeks later, he does an interview with The Washington Post and says that the PGA Tour has ‘brainwashed’ me.
“We’ve had this very nice exchange and he says that about me.”
McIlroy also pointedly commented that the Tour is lucky because of Norman’s position in LIV. “I think if they had found someone less polarizing, LIV could have made more headway,” he said.
McIlroy (L) and Sergio Garcia (R) were once close friends before a dispute over LIV Golf occurred
McIlroy’s relationship with his old friend Sergio Garcia after he crossed the golf gap.
Once Garcia’s best man, the couple apparently haven’t spoken since June amid the Spaniard’s anger over McIlroy’s criticism of LIV.
On Friday of the Open, McIlroy woke up to a text, he said, where Garcia was “basically telling me to shut up about LIV, blah blah blah blah blah.”
“He was pretty miffed and I sent him a couple of daggers and that was it,” McIlroy said.