Greg Norman has teed off on Jack Nicklaus, calling the Golden Bear a hypocrite.
Norman, who won 20 PGA Tour events and 71 international tournaments during his playing career, is a backer of the Saudi financed LIV Golf series.
Nicklaus, a golf legend, owns 73 PGA Tour wins and captured a record 18 majors before he started to focus on course design.
The Memorial: Jack Nicklaus addresses a number of topics
And according to Norman, Nicklaus originally supported LIV Golf before publicly pledging his allegiance exclusively to the PGA.
“Nicklaus attended a LIV presentation and later wrote in an email that the new tour had his blessing,” Norman told The Washington Post.
The back-and-forth has naturally attracted the attention of golf fans, some of whom compared what the two men did as players and their resulting legacies.
What Greg Norman said about Jack Nicklaus, Rory McIlroy
Norman was flash in the pan that burned out so many years ago nothing he says or does is relevant! Stay down under Greg!
Greg Norman suggests Rory McIlroy has been ‘brainwashed,’ calls Jack Nicklaus a ‘hypocrite’ https://t.co/Tacqa5oRpp via @USATODAY— Royce Hall (@royce_hall) June 6, 2022
Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus could save PGA Tour from LIV Golf
Others pointed out that Nicklaus signed on to design courses in Saudi Arabia or noted that In a breach-of-contract lawsuit, Nicklaus Companies, LLC, claims that it had to convince Nicklaus to abandon the idea of working with LIV Golf.
Some wonder if Greg Norman is telling the truth about Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus tried to take the money and then reneged because his business partners told him he was a doofus.
Norman told the truth about Jack
— boz (@s_bostrom) June 7, 2022
Most side with Jack Nicklaus, not Greg Norman over LIV Golf
But most believed Nicklaus was, in the end, taking a principled stand.
Greg Norman suggests Rory McIlroy has been ‘brainwashed,’ calls Jack Nicklaus a ‘hypocrite’ https://t.co/ExcbAOEoNw via @usatoday
It’s called having honor and integrity, you soulless flunky.
— Michael Schuett (@Iachi88) June 7, 2022
Greg Norman calls Rory McIlroy brainwashed.
Calls Jack Nicklaus a hypocrite.I call him a very bitter and desperate man.
— Ron Mintz (@MintzGolf) June 6, 2022
Some credit Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus. But LIV Golf has money
Although at least one internet wag joked that everyone’s principles are for sale – for the right price.
Tiger and Nicklaus said buzz off cause they are icons..don’t care if I ever see DJ or Phil play golf again unless the #LIVGolf needs a radio guy for around 500,000.00 to describe the 8 tournaments then I’m in .. 🤪😎👍 #LIVGolfradio #PGA
— Mike North (@North2North) June 7, 2022
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Jack Nicklaus ,Greg Norman dispute over LIV Golf: Reactions