LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman is known for his harsh opinions.
His latest Taylor Gooch look is truly something to behold as the Australian legend puts him in a category of his own.
The team interviewed Norman during Friday’s LIV Golf broadcast in Miami. gave a great compliment To Gooch.
“Taylor Gooch is the best iron player I’ve personally witnessed in golf over the last 20 years,” Norman said.
I highly recommend Taylor Gooch from “The Shark.” “Taylor Gooch is the best iron player I have personally witnessed in golf over the past 20 years.” pic.twitter.com/XCdLpCbqwh
— LIV Golf Enthusiast (@LIVGolfEnth) April 6, 2024
Those are very apt words from Norman’s mouth, considering all the people who have played professional golf over the past 20 years.
Does Tiger Woods ring a bell? He is one of the best iron players to ever play this game, regardless of time frame. Rory McIlroy is another player. When his game is at its best, McIlroy’s iron play puts on a clinic.
Justin Rose, Bubba Watson, and Collin Morikawa are all great iron players. All three are major champions, but Gooch is not.
LIV’s own Louis Oosthuizen could also fall into this category. So Norman’s statement that Gooch is better than these guys is bold and outlandish.
The shark probably wanted attention with his comment, and he received it.
Gooch left the PGA Tour with one win, one third place, nine top fives and 11 top 10s in 123 tournaments. His best result in a major championship was the 2022 Masters Tournament, where he finished T14. The 32-year-old also saw T20 at the 2022 PGA Championship. However, he missed half of his major appearances.
On the LIV Golf Tour, the former Oklahoma State product won his first tournament at LIV Golf Adelaide in Australia last April. He went on to win the LIV Singapore competition. His third tournament championship match took place in July 2023 in Andalusia, Spain. He will win the LIV Golf Individual Title in 2023.
The members of Smash GC also have a lot to say about the PGA Tour, and if McIlroy wins the 2024 Masters, he’ll need an asterisk next to it.
There is no doubt that he is one of the top players in the Saudi-backed league. Gooch has a lot of talent and he’s proven he can win all over the world. Is he the best iron player of the past 20 years? It’s hard to agree with Norman on this statement.
Savannah Lee Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.If you want to know more about golf, please follow us. @_PlayingThrough On all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirls and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
