Aussie LIV convert Marc Leishman has leapt to the defence of Greg Norman in the wake of an attack from Tiger Woods, who said the Shark needed to “step aside” for golf‘s a war to end.
But Adam Scott was less clear on whether there was any potential for co-operation with the PGA Tour, regardless of who was in charge, and wasn’t sure the two tours needed to come together at all.
Woods, following the lead of world No.1 Rory McIlroy, declared Norman “has to go” from his position at LIV, accusing him of trying to “destroy’ the PGA Tour.
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“There is no willingness to negotiate if you have litigation against you,” Woods said before his Hero World Challenge event.
“Greg has to go first of all. If one side has so much animosity, trying to destroy our tour, then how do you work with that?”
Leishman, who joined LIV with world No.3 Cameron Smith, wasn’t keen to enter the war of words but gave his support to Norman, who helped lure the pair to the Saudi-backed league.
“I think Greg’s done a good job, he’s got the players,” Leishman said in Melbourne where he’s preparing for the Australian Open, one of only two events outside the LIV tournaments he can play.
“I think it’s something that everyone’s got an opinion on and they’re certainly entitled to that. I’m just enjoying where I’m at at the moment. I’m happy to go about my career quietly, not get into all that stuff.”
Scott said it appeared Woods and McIlroy were “speaking for the PGA Tour these days” but didn’t see a coming together of the sparring groups any time soon.
“I guess they’re speaking for the PGA Tour somewhat these day it seems,” Scott said.
“But I don’t know what this coming together is. I don’t know, is someone making that up? Like, is that a possibility? I don’t know.
“I really am not involved at that level at all and it seems like all speculation to me.
“I genuinely feel like LIV should get on with what they’re doing and the PGA Tour should get on with what they’re doing and it will all sought out, whether that’s together or not, I have no clue.
“But I don’t necessarily think that it has to be together or not together for the good of the game.
“I think the good of the game will prevail, but it’s a big shake-up and we’re not used to that. And that’s where I think it’s at at the moment.”