GREG NORMAN has denied making a financial offer to Rory McIlroy for him to join LIV Golf.
However, the LIV boss is ‘happy to sit down’ with McIlroy and have a conversation about him jumping ship.
Last week, it had been reported that a substantial bid had been made towards McIlroy in the region of $850 million.
The four-time major winner has been one of the main critics of the Saudi-based operation but he has seen many of his PGA colleagues make the switch over the last couple years.
Despite the reports, McIlroy’s offer was swiftly debunked in an interview with NBC’s Golf Central.
Norman said: “LIV never put an offer to him. This is just typical white noise that gets out there in the industry.”
Although McIlroy insisted to NBC that he would remain with the PGA ‘for the rest of my career’, Norman is still happy to hold talks with the star.
He continued: “If Rory was willing to sit down with us and have a conversation with us, would we be happy to sit down with him — 100 percent.
“No different to any other player who would be interested in coming over to play with us.”
Aside from McIlroy, Norman hinted that he could be on the verge of signing another major star after having a meeting with him.
He said: “I mean I’ve sat down with one top, top PGA player in his house with another member of my team and walked him through the whole process.
“And he was so impressed and he said, ‘that’s not what we’re told in the locker room.
“He made the decision and he called me up two days later and said ‘I’m deciding to stay where I’m at’.
“I said, ‘happy days, you made the decision on facts. The door is always open if you want to come back and have a conversation’.”
McIlroy’s commitment to the PGA looks set to be strengthened after reports claimed he is in line for a shock return to the PGA Tour Policy Board.
The Guardian say sources close to the situation claim that there will be a vote today to determine McIlroy’s return as a director both on the PGA Tour’s policy board and on PGA Tour Enterprises.
The PAC advises and consults with the PGA TOUR Policy Board (Board of Directors) and Commissioner Jay Monaghan on issues affecting the PGA Tour.
2011 US Open winner Webb Simpson tendered his resignation along with a request that the Northern Irishman takes his place on the board.