Greg Norman draws backlash for comments about journalist Jamal Khashoggi's killing

Greg Norman already has a mark on him for being the figurehead of the Saudi Arabia-funded LIV Golf Invitational. He made matters much, much worse by making comments about slain Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi and is drawing the backlash such comments deserve.

In a news conference for the breakaway golf league on Wednesday, Norman was asked about Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, who controls the Pubic Investment Fund that backs the LIV Golf league. Norman was asked specifically about bin Salman's alleged role in the killing of Khashoggi in 2018 inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

"From what I heard and what you guys reported, just take ownership of what it is," Norman said to reporters, via ESPN. "Take ownership no matter what it is. Look, we've all made mistakes, and you just want to learn from those mistakes and how you can correct them going forward."

Calling Khashoggi's brutal killing a "mistake" has not sat well, particularly with Khashoggi's fiancee, Hatice Cengiz. 

"It is so hurtful when Jamal's brutal killing is brushed off as a 'mistake' and that we should just move on," Cengiz told The Telegraph after hearing Norman's comments. "Would you say that if it was your loved one? How can we go forward when those who ordered the murder are still unpunished and continue to try to buy back their legitimacy?"

LIV Golf issued a statement on Norman's behalf as an apology:

"The killing of Jamal Khashoggi was reprehensible. Everyone agrees on that, including Greg, as he has said as such previously on many occasions. Greg also knows that golf is a force for good around the world and can help make inroads toward positive change. That is why he is so excited about LIV and that was the point he was making."

Unfortunately, Norman's comments are also in line with others made to defend his LIV Golf Invitational being backed by a country accused of numerous human rights crimes. PGA Tour pro Phil Mickelson came under massive fire earlier this year when a leaked interview unveiled Mickelson making light of Saudi Arabia's crimes because he wanted to play in a league that doles out a ton of money.

Mickelson is one of a handful of golfers who were denied requests by the PGA this week to go play in LIV's first big tournament in London next month. LIV Golf also put out a statement about the denied requests, calling the PGA Tour "anti-golfer."