Aussie stars leap to LIV boss Greg Norman´s defence after Tiger Woods called for him to ‘step aside’ in golf’s civil war

Australian-turned-LIV Marc Leishman has jumped to Greg Norman’s defense following an attack from Tiger Woods, who said the Shark needed to “step aside” for the golf war to end.

But Adam Scott was less clear about whether there was any potential for cooperation with the PGA Tour, regardless of who was in charge, and was unsure whether the two tours would need to come together.

Woods, following the lead of world number one Rory McIlroy, declared that Norman “has to go” from his position at LIV, accusing him of trying to “destroy the PGA Tour.”

“There’s no willingness to negotiate if you have litigation against you,” Woods said before his Hero World Challenge event.

‘Greg has to go first of all. If one party has so much animosity and tries to destroy our tour, how do you work with that?

Woods wants Norman to step aside so they can reach a resolution between the two tours.

Leishman, who joined the LIV with world No.3 Cameron Smith, was unwilling to enter the war of words but threw his support behind Norman, who helped lure the pair to the Saudi-backed league.

“I think Greg’s done a good job, he’s got the players,” Leishman said in Melbourne, where he is preparing for the Australian Open, one of only two events outside of LIV tournaments he can play.

‘I think it’s something that everyone has an opinion on and they’re certainly entitled to it. I’m just enjoying where I am right now. I’m happy to move forward with my career quietly, without getting into all that stuff.’

Scott said it seemed like Woods and McIlroy were “talking for the PGA Tour these days,” but he didn’t see a reunion of the sparring groups any time soon.

“I guess they’re talking partly about the PGA Tour nowadays,” Scott said.

‘But I don’t know what this thing about uniting is. I don’t know, is someone making this up? Is that a possibility? I don’t know.

Australian LIV convert Marc Leishman has defended Norman following Woods’ comments

Australian golfer Adam Scott wants the disputes to end and for both tours to focus solely on playing golf.

‘I’m not really involved at that level at all and it seems like pure speculation to me.

“I really feel like LIV should keep doing what they’re doing and the PGA Tour should keep doing what they’re doing and everything will be pursued, whether they’re together or not, I have no idea.”

“But I don’t necessarily think we have to be together or not for the sake of the game.”

“I think the good things about the game will prevail, but it’s a big change and we’re not used to that. And that’s where I think we’re at right now.”