Report: Greg Norman expected to be commissioner of Saudi golf league

Rumors have circled the golf world about a new global circuit since 2020, when a Saudi-backed group proposed a new tour offering hefty payouts to a small group of the sport's biggest stars.

Multiple golf media members were in a meeting Wednesday to discuss a new Saudi-backed golf series, Golfweek's Tim Schmidt reports. Sources said 88-time worldwide winner Greg Norman is expected to be named commissioner.

The Saudi group previously pitched the Premier Golf League (PGL) and Super Golf League (SGL), which were met with varying degrees of interest. The group has reportedly reached out to Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Rickie Fowler, and Justin Rose, among others, regarding their participation in the new circuit.

The Premier Golf League planned to feature an 18-event schedule with 40-48 of the sport's biggest stars. Unlike the PGA TOUR's cut system, it would have guaranteed golfers money for every appearance regardless of their finishing position. The proposed league also involved a team concept where 10-12 players would captain four-man groups, culminating in a season-ending team championship.

While the PGA TOUR has yet to officially comment, it did announce the Player Impact Program in May - a $40-million pot for the 10 golfers deemed most valuable to the game at the end of the season.

Golfweek's Eamon Lynch reported that eight PGA TOUR players, including Tommy Fleetwood, Graeme McDowell, and defending champion Johnson, requested permission to participate in the 2022 Saudi International in February. PGA TOUR commissioner Jay Monahan reportedly confirmed in May that any TOUR member who joins a rival league is subject to a lifetime ban.

Norman proposed a World Golf Tour - a series of eight no-cut events with 40 of the game's biggest names - in 1994, but then-PGA TOUR commissioner Tim Finchem rejected the plan. Norman also took part in the inaugural Golf Saudi Summit in 2020.