Australian golf legend Greg Norman has expressed his belief that India is a “sleeping giant” in the world of golf, emphasising the importance of more tournaments in the country to help realise its true potential. Norman, 69, who has won 88 professional titles in his illustrious career, is optimistic about the future of Indian golf and sees great promise in the country’s emerging talent.
Speaking on the sidelines of the recently concluded Asian Tour event, Norman said, “One of my initial focus points was to invest in the sleeping giant, which was the Asian Tour. India is a sleeping giant when it comes to golf. I mean, you just look at what’s happening in India with the game of golf; it has only just started, right?” He added, “For the next 25 years, which is a generation, India is right in the middle of them.”
Norman, who has long been a prominent figure in the sport, has also been instrumental in the creation of LIV Golf, a breakaway league funded by Saudi Arabia. The league introduced fresh ideas, such as 54-hole tournaments (as opposed to the traditional 72-hole events) and no weekend cuts, allowing all players to compete throughout the competition. LIV has faced resistance from the PGA Tour and European Tour, both of which argue that the new league disrupts the traditional golfing structure. Despite the opposition, Norman firmly believes LIV can have a significant impact on Indian golf, which had been on the rise in the early 2000s.
Indian golfers such as Jeev Milkha Singh, Shiv Kapur, SSP Chawrasia, Jyoti Randhawa, and Arjun Atwal enjoyed success on international tours a decade ago. However, the momentum in Indian golf has waned in recent years, something Norman attributes to the lack of exposure and competitions in the country. “I love LIV to come to India because to me, it’s significant. Everything takes baby steps. And obviously, the international place to enter the league is important to do that,” he said, calling for more global golfing events in the region.
Norman explained that LIV Golf has created a new dynamic in the sport, offering an alternative business model and fresh formats that have enticed new fans to the game. “LIV created a new dynamic for the game of golf because it gave an opportunity in the competitive golfing world for a new business model,” he said. “Different formats have come out and enticed millions and millions of people to come into the game of golf. I truly believe LIV will be the true global golf platform for golf. We want to be in all the continents of the world…We bring a product that’s a plug and play that’s never been done before.”
The former world number one is particularly keen on LIV’s potential to bring new opportunities to young golfers across the globe, including in India. “We bring franchise models. We’re bringing the youth side of it,” Norman said. His focus on youth development is evident in his praise for rising Indian golfers such as Kartik Singh, who impressed at the recent International Series event.
More Read
Norman also took the opportunity to praise Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri, who joined LIV along with other prominent names like Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, and Lee Westwood. “He’s not just a great golfer, but he’s a great person. He’s a great spokesperson. He’s a great representative of your country. So, all those ingredients allowed me to go, let’s go do it,” Norman said of Lahiri, who has seven Asian and two European titles to his name.
Another Indian golfer catching Norman’s attention is 15-year-old Kartik Singh, who made the cut at the International Series event. “He’s captured it. He made the cut. I think it’s pretty impressive. I haven’t seen his swing at golf club…I look forward to seeing his swing at golf club,” Norman added, highlighting Singh’s impressive performance at such a young age.
As Indian golf continues to grow, Norman’s vision of the country becoming a major force in the sport looks more likely with increased opportunities, tournaments, and exposure. With LIV’s support and the rise of young players like Lahiri and Singh, the future of Indian golf is certainly bright.
