Greg Norman reveals the one comment that 'got to me' at 2024 Masters

Greg Norman claimed his right hand was sore from shaking so many patrons' hands at the 2024 Masters. 

The LIV Golf boss rocked up to the first major of the year to follow the 13 breakaway tour players in the field on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 

Two-time Open champion Norman, 69, was also a keen observer of Rory McIlroy's group. 

According to the No Laying Up podcast, Norman was behaving strangely towards the Northern Irishman. 

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Podcast host Chris Solomon alleged he saw the Australian 'grinning' and attempting to get McIlroy's attention near the putting green. 

McIlroy later said he was unaware of Norman's presence. "It was just the weirdest scene," Solomon said. 

Remarkably, it later emerged that Norman had to pay for his own ticket after Augusta National chose not to invite him.

That prompted Fred Couples, the 1992 green jacket winner, to twist the knife on Norman after he missed the cut. 

Couples wrote on X: "13 LIV Golf League players in the field at The Masters and none of them could get Greg Norman a ticket? Greg had to buy one? Next year if you need one Shark let me know."

The American has always been critical of LIV and even in the build-up to the major continued his hostilities towards the circuit. 

"If the LIV Tour is better for golf, I'm missing something there," he said. 

Still, it appears as though Norman enjoyed being back at Augusta National. 

"The few days I spent at Augusta walking for the first time ever behind the ropes, embedded in the heartbeat of golf - the patrons - were extremely powerful and poignant," he wrote on X. 

He added: "It was humbling, moving and I was taken aback by your words of encouragement, 'Thank you for what you have done for golf', 'Don't stop,' 'Love LIV'. 

"And the one that got to me personally and emotionally: 'Welcome back.'"

Norman was also denied a tournament pass for the Masters in 2023. 

Although at that time, the landscape in men's professional golf was completely different and the hostilities were perhaps at an all-time high. 

Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley was asked about snubbing The Shark. 

And Ridley stated he did not want Norman to detract from the tournament. 

"I want the focus this week to be on the Masters competition," he previously said.  

"I would also add that, in the last 10 years, Greg Norman has only been here twice, and I believe one of those was as a commentator for Sirius Radio. 

"It [the rejection] really was to keep the focus on the competition."

Of the 13 LIV players in the field, eight made the cut, including 53-year-old Phil Mickelson. 

Defending champion Jon Rahm struggled in his title defence. 

Heading into the final day, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith were the only breakaway tour players who were within striking distance of 54-hole leader Scottie Scheffler. 

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