McIlroy has been the biggest supporter of the established tours in their battle with the Saudi-funded breakaway circuit, but recently called for a compromise to be reached between the rival factions.
However, McIlroy believes that will be impossible if Norman remains at the helm of LIV Golf, which is expanding to a 14-event league schedule in 2023.
“I think Greg needs to go. I think he just needs to exit stage left,” McIlroy said of the Australian at a press conference ahead of the final DP World Tour event of this season in Dubai.
“He’s made his mark but I think now is the right time to say you’ve got this thing off the ground but no-one’s going to talk unless there’s an adult in the room that can actually try to mend fences.”
LIV Golf last week denied reports that Norman would be replaced by former TaylorMade executive Mark King, while there is also the small matter of various lawsuits to be resolved before any compromise can be reached.
“He’s made his mark but I think now is the right time to say you’ve got this thing off the ground but no-one’s going to talk unless there’s an adult in the room that can actually try to mend fences.” – Rory McIlroy.
“There are obviously two lawsuits going on at the minute,” McIlroy added. “There’s the PGA Tour versus LIV and there’s obviously this one that’s coming up with the DP World Tour in February.
“Nothing can happen if those two things are going on. Right now it is a bit of a stalemate.”
McIlroy admits his relationship with a number of Ryder Cup team-mates has been significantly damaged by their defection to LIV Golf and feels they should not be on Luke Donald’s side in Rome next year.
But asked if “forgiveness” was possible in an increasingly polarised environment, McIlroy said: “Yeah, I think in time, that can happen.
“It’s obviously been a very contentious year in golf. The best thing in golf is to have all the best players playing together, and what’s happening right now, that’s not happening.
“So I fear for the game when that’s going on. It’s contentious because there’s lawsuits going on and people suing people; it’s very, very messy.
“If all that stuff can be sorted out one way or the other, then you can get to the stage where there’s forgiveness and people can have dialogue and come to some sort of common ground or compromise.”
