Greg Norman downplays the killing of journalist while promoting Saudi-backed golf league
- Norman was forced to defend Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a press event, telling reporters ‘we’ve all made mistakes’
- A number of high-profile golfers have been tipped to play the 54-hole event at Centurion Club, which boasts an eye-watering prize fund of US$25 million
Greg Norman batted away concerns over Saudi Arabia’s rights record and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by saying “we’ve all made mistakes” as he defended his new money-spinning golf tour.
The Australian former world number one is heading the new multimillion-dollar LIV Golf Invitational Series which is heavily backed by Saudi financing and has sparked accusations of “sportswashing”.
A United States intelligence assessment found that the Gulf kingdom’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, “approved” an operation to capture or kill critic and columnist Khashoggi.
Saudi officials deny this and say that his murder and dismemberment in the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate in 2018 – which sparked worldwide outrage – was a “rogue” operation.
“This whole thing about Saudi Arabia and Khashoggi and human rights, talk about it, but also talk about the good that the country is doing in changing its culture,” Norman said when grilled by reporters about Saudi involvement in the series, which starts in England next month.