Bryson DeChambeau was left bemused during his 15th hole tee shot, as Greg Norman stormed onto the green and began tending the flag in an unusual stunt
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman left Bryson DeChambeau scratching his head with a peculiar stunt as he prepared to tee off in Nashville. Deep in conversation with his caddie, planning for the 15th hole, DeChambeau was taken aback when Norman suddenly stormed onto the green and began jokingly tending the flag.
This unexpected act, typically done when a player is attempting a long-range putt, drew mixed reactions as DeChambeau was teeing off on a par three. The American golfer appeared perplexed by Norman’s antics, raising his arm in bewilderment, while the crowd behind the tee delighted in the Australian’s cheeky behaviour.
Despite its strangeness, particularly coming from the tournament’s CEO, Norman’s actions were in keeping with the ethos of LIV Golf. The 15th hole at the Nashville event had been transformed into a ‘party hole’, an effort by the organisers to inject a ‘classic stadium atmosphere and provide the electric soundtrack’ to the Tennessee tournament.
As per the LIV Golf website, the 15th hole was a hub of excitement featuring “live music all day, with a classic Nashville sound, fan challenges, allowing them to test their skills against other fans and legendary announcer Alan Roach, conducting the party course-side.”
The concept was inspired by the hit ‘party holes’ at LIV’s events in Adelaide and Chicago, which have created quite the buzz with their vibrant atmosphere. De Chambeau commented on an incident involving Norman: “I had no idea (it was Norman). If I knew it was him. I would have been totally cool with it. I wasn’t trying to wave him off.”
As LIV Golf continues to shake up the sport, it finds itself in a tug-of-war with the established PGA Tour over the direction of golf’s future.
The ongoing discussions between the two titans of golf, PGA and LIV, are attempting to mend the rift caused by LIV’s explosive entrance onto the scene last year. A memo sent to PGA Tour players recently offered an update on these negotiations.
The memo read: “Our talks are ongoing, with the goal of developing a shared vision for the future of professional golf that is pro-competitive and provides players with the best global opportunities.”
It also emphasised the importance of player input: “Your Player Directors have been crucial in this process. Their insights and perspectives are steering us towards a positive outcome, and we will keep you updated as additional work is accomplished.”