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Nobody told LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman what was coming Tuesday until word began to leak via CNBC that the PGA Tour rival circuit was on the verge of a transformative peace treaty.

Norman learned moments before a TV interview aired on CNBC with Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which is the primary financial backer of LIV Golf, breaking down the agreement.

“I made a call just before this and of course he is a partner with us, and all the stakeholders that we have with us they had the call right before this interview,” Yasir Al-Rumayyan said in the interview of when Norman was in the know.

Norman, named CEO of LIV from its launch, was not listed in any of the formal announcements or press releases discussing the merger. He has been operating largely behind the scenes in the second season of LIV Golf since Tiger Woods bluntly said there could be no handshake between the sides because first, Norman “has to go.”

He wasn’t invited to the Masters in April to “limit drama,” according to Augusta National Golf Club chair Fred Ridley. Eighteen LIV golfers competed in the Masters.

Al-Rumayyan and Majed Al Sorour had final say over Norman and all LIV Golf matters. Al Sorour transitioned out of the role of managing director of LIV Golf earlier this year.

–Field Level Media