Greg Norman's son confirms his father PAID for a ticket to The Masters after being spotted at Augusta... before slamming 'sociopathic online trolls' for hate towards the LIV CEO

Greg Norman's son has confirmed the LIV boss paid for his ticket to The Masters after being spotted at Augusta National Thursday - following his ban from the legendary golf course last year.

Norman, whose breakaway LIV has often clashed with the PGA Tour, was denied a ticket after 'going through the proper professional channels,' according to Greg Norman Jr., so he took matters into his own hands and bought one on the 'secondary market.' 

Responding to a skeptical fan, Norman Jr. said, 'Without a doubt, an invitation was not extended to my dad, and in fact, when he tried to buy one directly from them, he was denied. Hence, he had to buy on the secondary market.

'It was an amazing experience; hundreds of golf fans approached him walking outside the ropes. All positive support of him and LIV. Not one person said anything negative to him,' Norman Jr. added.

He continued, 'And this is exactly the point of me posting this: we have received a lot of hate over the years, but this stems from financially incentivized opposing parties or bottom-of-the-barrel sociopathic online trolls. The vast majority of folks we run into are positive, encouraging, fans of LIV, or simply fans of golf.'

'So, in light of this, here's to an epic Masters. Four days where we put all the BS behind us, sit back, and watch a LIV player take the green jacket,' he concluded.

After Brooks Koepka became the first LIV golfer to win The Masters last year, Norman will be hoping for a similar result this year.

The likes of Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Bubba Watson, Joaquin Niemann, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton, and Adrian Meronk will be competing at Augusta this week.

Norman also shook hands with Min Woo Lee - a fellow Australian golfer - as he made his rounds on the course.  

Norman was banned from the course last year as LIV, which has disrupted the golf world by poaching PGA talent, was taking part in its second season.

The Masters kicked off on Thursday after being delayed by heavy rainstorms.