Greg Norman criticises Sir Nick Faldo ahead of 2026 Masters
Greg Norman has launched a scathing attack on Sir Nick Faldo in a bombshell interview just days before the 2026 Masters gets underway at Augusta National, reports BritPanorama.
The Australian golf legend expressed lingering resentment towards the six-time major champion following Faldo’s criticism of LIV Golf. Norman, who served as LIV Golf’s commissioner until his contract expired last September, described their relationship as non-existent, saying, “We never had any sort of relationship. We were chalk and cheese. He was a loner. I couldn’t be like him.”
During the interview, he also made his feelings clear: “I don’t have any respect for someone who gives their opinion on something in that sort of manner when they don’t know both sides.” Faldo capitalised on Norman’s collapse during the final round of the 1996 Masters, claiming his third green jacket as Norman squandered a six-shot lead.
Norman pointed to Faldo’s actions during that event, recalling how Faldo embraced him on the 18th green, whispering words of encouragement. Yet, he has now cast doubt on the sincerity of that moment: “He’s the one who came up to me, he’s the one who hugged me… it didn’t really mean much to me.”
Faldo has been vocal in his criticism of LIV Golf, previously dismissing it as “meaningless” and suggesting that interest in the league was minimal. Norman, expressing frustration, stated that Faldo failed to reach out privately before airing his grievances publicly. “Come on, we have a history, he could have called me and asked for the other side of the story,” Norman remarked. This, he feels, contributed to a lack of respect for Faldo.
He further reflected on the prevailing hostility toward LIV Golf during his tenure, noting shifting geopolitical attitudes towards Saudi Arabia: “Roll the clock back four-and-a-half years ago, about all the anti-Saudi sentiment… It’s changed now.”
Norman even hinted at possessing undisclosed information related to the challenges he faced while leading LIV Golf, stating, “I’m not allowed to tell you everything that happened and what was against us. But one day, when I’m near the end, I might. It will be like the Watergate of golf.”
The unfolding narrative surrounding Norman and Faldo serves as a reminder of the undercurrents that characterise the world of golf, where rivalries occasionally reinterpret sporting history. Amidst the ongoing saga, the stakes remain high as the golfing world prepares for the Masters, where legacies are both forged and at times contested.
