‘Little’: Greg Norman criticizes R&A for not inviting him to dinner and Open Championship tournament

In a past iteration of life in the golf world, Greg Norman will be the life of the Open Championship party.

Now he doesn’t even get a dinner invitation.

Longtime PGA legend Norman, who serves as CEO of LIV, the Saudi-backed golf league that competes in the PGA, was informed by R&A that he was not invited to the Open Champions dinner.

“I’m disappointed,” Norman explained. I thought R&A would stay on top of everything because of their position in the golf world. It’s a small thing, because all I’ve done is promote and develop the game of golf around the world, inside and outside the golf course, for over four decades. ”

Norman played an important role in bringing the PGA’s top golfers into the junior league, backed by Saudi Arabia. Overall, more than a dozen golfers such as Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and others have moved to the LIV.

However, some legendary PGA players like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy chose to stay in the PGA.

“In response to questions regarding the Champions Field’s R&A Celebration and Champions Dinner, we can confirm that we have contacted Greg Norman to inform him that we have decided not to invite him to this event,” R&A said in a statement.

Norman did not take the R&D appeal lightly. Since he was a two-time champion, he asked permission to participate in the Open Championship tournament.

But in vain.

“Terms and conditions for participation in The Open state that a champion must be 60 years of age or younger or have won a championship in the last 10 years to qualify. It remains valid for the 150th Open and we have no plans for further exceptions,” R&A said in a statement.

The decision not to invite Norman represents another blow to the ongoing power struggle between the PGA and LIV. PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan has suspended all LIV fugitives from the PGA Tour. The DP World Tour also suspended players.