LIV Golf 'happy to sit down' with Rory McIlroy over PGA Tour exit, says Greg Norman... despite world No 2 dismissing talk of $850m defection to Saudi breakaway

Greg Norman insists LIV Golf never made an offer to Rory McIlroy but that the Saudi-backed breakaway would be happy to 'have a conversation' with the world No 2 about defecting from the PGA Tour.

McIlroy was recently linked with a sensational $850million U-Turn, with reports claiming he was close to following Jon Rahm to LIV.

The Northern Irishman, who has been one of the breakaway's most vocal critics, shot down the speculation and confirmed he would play on the PGA Tour for the rest of his career. 'My future is here,' he said.

McIlroy is ranked No 2 in the world but such is Scottie Scheffler's dominance over his rivals that the American's caddie, Ted Scott ($1.8m), is believed to have earned more than McIlroy ($1.7m) this season.

McIlroy and Norman have traded insults since the emergence of LIV but the Australian said this week: 'If Rory was willing to sit down and have a conversation with us, would we be happy to sit down with him? 100 per cent'

Greg Norman insists that LIV Golf never made an offer to world No 2 Rory McIlroy

But the Australian said he would 'be happy to sit down with' the Northern Irishman

Speaking in Adelaide ahead of LIV's event Down Under, the Australian said: 'LIV never put an offer to him... we didn't need to make a comment about this. This is just typical white noise that gets out there in the industry.

'If Rory was willing to sit down and have a conversation with us, would we be happy to sit down with him? 100 per cent, no different than any other player who would be interested in coming on and playing with us.

'It's understanding the facts about what LIV represents and what LIV can deliver on a global basis. It's up to you to determine it. 

'I've sat down with one top, top PGA TOUR player in his house with another member of my team, walking through the whole process, and he was so impressed. 

'He said: "Well, that's not what we're told in the locker room. This is really impressive".

McIlroy recently insisted that he would play on the PGA Tour for the rest of his career

'But he made the decision. He told me two days later: "I've decided to stay where I'm at". 

'I said: "Happy days. You made a decision on fact. If you're happier over here, fine, stay there. The door is always open; if you want to come back and have a conversation with us, happy to do that".'

Negotiations are also ongoing between the PGA and DP World Tours and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which bankrolls LIV Golf.

'I would love to give you insight but I don't have any,' Norman said. 'We at LIV are totally separate to that part of the negotiation. We at LIV are a standalone company being invested by the same investor interested in the game of golf.'