Greg Norman has been the subject of much debate in recent months, as the chief executive and influential frontman of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series. After securing the first high-profile recruit of the series in the form of Cameron Smith, speculation has been rife as to whether Smith has made the right decision in signing with the breakaway tour.
The decision has been met with criticism from prominent analyst Brandel Chamblee, who believes that Norman has potentially denied Smith the chance of being regarded as the greatest player from Australia. Chamblee believes that Smith had the talent to supplant Peter Thomson and Greg Norman as the country’s greatest ever golfer, and that his decision to sign with LIV could have cost him a potentially great career.
The Australian rose to number two in the world rankings last July and was named PGA Tour Player of the Year at the end of the 2022 season after claiming two of golf’s most prestigious tournament crowns. He was set to defend his Players Championship title at TPC Sawgrass this week, but his LIV status means he will be ineligible to compete.
Chamblee has likened Smith to golfing greats such as Tom Watson and Seve Ballesteros, and believes that he had the potential to be an “absolute great player”. He believes that had Smith not been tempted to LIV, he could have matched or even surpassed the successes of Watson and Ballesteros in the years to come.
The debate over Smith’s decision to join LIV and the impact it could have on his career will likely continue for some time. But one thing is for certain, if Smith had not been tempted to the breakaway tour, he could have had a career to rival some of the best golfers of all time.
