Sir Nick Faldo shows true colours after Greg Norman ‘nasty’ comments | Golf | Sport

Sir Nick Faldo has responded to Greg Norman’s claims he made “nasty” comments about his involvement with LIV Golf. The six-time major champion had promised to delay his rebuttal out of respect for the then-ongoing Masters.

As Rory McIlroy was presented with his green jacket for the second time on Sunday at Augusta National, he joined a list of only four golfers ever to win the event in back-to-back years. One of those men was Faldo, who prevailed in Georgia in both 1989 and 1990 before adding a third title in 1996. However, Faldo, who was on punditry duty for Sky Sports last week, was the subject of some unsavoury allegations before this year’s renewal. Australian star Norman, who duelled with Faldo on the greens in the 1990s and finished runner-up to him at Augusta in 1996, took aim at the start of April.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Norman said: “Nick said some things about me during my time at LIV, some really nasty things. 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.

“Come on, we have a history, he could have called me and asked for the other side of the story, and I’d have gladly given it. And if he still hadn’t agreed then fine – his opinion and as he knows the facts, he would have been entitled to say anything he likes. Happy days. But just to sound off? Like I said, no respect for him.”

The management company representing Faldo has released an extensive document in response to these allegations, which discloses screenshots of text message conversations he had with Norman in December 2020 and November 2022.

Said documents detail that Faldo allegedly invited Norman onto his show to discuss LIV and wider golf topics, but that was seemingly declined. A supposed text exchange from 2020 in which Faldo wished Norman well after he was hospitalised with COVID also featured.

The messages regarding a potential interview with Norman appear to show Faldo promising that the show would not be all about LIV and that he did not wish to corner his former adversary, simply wanting him to be able to convey his opinions.

Faldo’s statement ended: “Given the passage of time and the changes that have since taken place within the game of golf, Sir Nick does not consider that discussion a relevant one to reopen. Accordingly, no further comment will be made.”