LIV Golf chief executive Greg Norman said Rory McIlroy’s softened stance on the Saudi-funded tour was a “significant turning point” for the sport.
The world number two has been a fierce opponent of LIV, which has recruited top players and fractured golf.
However, McIlroy said Wednesday that he would open to playing in a tournament supported by LIV Golf.
Norman said he appreciated McIlroy “falling on his sword.”
Speaking on LIV’s ‘Fairway to Heaven’ podcast on Thursday, Norman said: “The reason I say I appreciate Rory falling on his sword, to a certain extent, is the fact that he gave us judged without knowing the facts.
“He judged us by the thoughts and opinions of others.
“So, I say ‘hey, thanks Rory’. We all knew this was going to work within the golf ecosystem. We all wanted to be there, we’re going to be there – he said that. For me, it’s an extremely important turning point for everyone.”
Merger talks between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which finances LIV, will continue in 2024 in an attempt to end a split in the game.
McIlroy, four-time major winner said previously he would retire “if LIV Golf were the last place to play golf on earth.”
Court documents revealed last year that McIlroy and American Tiger Woods could have been offered ownership of Team LIV franchises as part of the proposed peace deal between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF.
On Wednesday, the Northern Irishman told Stick to the Football Podcast he had “accepted” that LIV was “now part of our sport”.
Less than a month after his Ryder Cup teammate Jon Rahm has joined the Saudi-backed seriesMcIlroy said he regretted being “too critical” of the players who joined LIV when the tour was first introduced in 2022.