LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman is set to continue to aggressively pursue PGA Tour stars during golf’s off-season, and the Australian may already have two key names in mind
Greg Norman has made no secret of his desire to sign Hideki Matsuyama (
Image: GETTY)
LIV Golf is set to continue spending during golf’s off-season, a year on from the bombshell signings of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton.
The breakaway league, funded by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, is expected to continue spending ahead of the 2025 season – which will hold its first four events up against some of the PGA Tour’s biggest early-season events, as golf’s civil war escalates further, with no resolution in sight.
LIV CEO Greg Norman recently declared the league was here to stay, and with speculation suggesting it will continue spending to add to its roster of stars, there are two big names the Saudi PIF could very well be going after.
The first is a man Norman has made no secret of his desire to sign; Hideki Matsuyama. The former Masters champion is one of the best players in the world, and a superstar in Japan. It’s been claimed in the past that while the PGA Tour doesn’t aggressively market him with regards to American events, he’s the biggest player on the Tour with regards to all Asia publicity.
Speculation suggests Matsuyama’s possible deal could well become one of the biggest contracts LIV Golf has handed out – which is especially notable considering the £450million package paid out to Rahm.
Speaking earlier this year, Norman made no secret of his desire to get a deal done. “I’ll give you another example. We’ve been trying to get Hideki Matsuyama. I don’t mind admitting that. When Hideki won in LA, what’s the first thing I did? I said, ‘Congratulations, Hideki. I’m proud of you, mate.’”
Viktor Hovland struggled throughout the 2024 season – but picked things up late in the year ( PA)
If Norman really wants to make a splash, as well as coaxing Matsuyama away from the PGA Tour, he’ll heed the words of former world No.1 Viktor Hovland. The Norwegian is one of the best players in the world without question – but suffered a nightmare 2024 after issues with his swing coach.
Earlier this year, Hovland admitted he’d asked his agent to initiate talks with LIV Golf to see what kind of offer was out there. If those talks are still ongoing, LIV has the upper hand after the nightmare year he’s had.
With the framework agreement made between the PGA Tour and the Saudi PIF, there’s an end in sight for golf’s civil war. If Bryson DeChambeau’s win at the US Open and Rahm’s success on the LIV tour are anything to go by, there’s a very clear path for players to have success on the breakaway tour – especially if there’s a future merger for everyone to go back to in perhaps a year’s time.
