A number of golf fans were stunned after Greg Norman’s son confirmed on social media the polarising LIV CEO was forced to pay his own way into the Masters.
Greg Norman Jr took to social media platform X to corroborate the wild development, with his father seen shaking hands with Australian star Min Woo Lee and strolling through Augusta National – despite being unwelcome by the club.
As CEO of LIV Golf, Norman was not invited to last year’s Masters – or to the landmark 150th British Open in 2022 – despite being a two-time champion.
He also had to buy his own ticket this week to see who ends up with the prestigious green jacket.
‘I’m here because we have 13 [LIV] players that won 10 Masters between them,’ a defiant Norman told The Washington Post.
‘So I’m here just to support them, do the best I can to show them, ‘Hey, you know, the boss is here rooting for you’.’
Australia’s long-time former world No.1 was back at Augusta for Thursday’s opening round, starting out watching defending champion Jon Rahm, who switched to LIV in December on a deal reportedly worth more than half a billion dollars.
It come as Greg Norman Jr took to social media to confirm the development involving his father: ‘Yes. All this is true,’ he tweeted on X.
‘My dad paid for a ticket on the secondary market to attend the Masters as a patron.
‘He was denied one directly after going through the proper professional channels.
‘He had to be there anyway to support the LIV players. It was an amazing experience; hundreds of golf fans approached him walking outside the ropes.
‘All positive support of him and LIV. Not one person said anything negative to him.’
Norman Jr added while those involved on the rogue Saudi backed circuit have ‘received a lot of hate over the years’ the Masters presents an opportunity to ‘put all the BS behind us, sit back, and watch a LIV player take the green jacket.’
Supporters of the man dubbed the ‘Shark’ were in disbelief at the lack of respect Norman endured on the iconic greens.
‘Haters gonna hate…Glad to see humanity prevailing and the vast majority of people showing up as lovely non-troll humans, and golf fans,’ one posted.
Another stated: ‘The Shark is a legend. Doesn’t deserve to be treated like that.’
A third weighed in with: ‘Your father is an icon in the golf world and someone who should be praised for his accomplishments and for growing the game with LIV.’