LIV Golf Names New CEO in Scott O’Neil

LIV Golf has made it official and has named Scott O’Neil as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

The league said O’Neil would “drive the strategic vision, business operations, and global growth for the league, its 13 teams and roster of world-class golfers, and its efforts to drive positive impact.”

Additionally, the league said Greg Norman will hand off day-to-day management, but will remain involved with LIV.

O’Neil was CEO of Merlin Entertainment, and served as CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment before that. He helped oversee more than $2 billion of growth.

He also was on various boards of sports teams including the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and others.

O’Neil said:

“The opportunity to lead a global sports league is a dream come true. I am grateful and humbly thank the members of the LIV Golf Board of Directors and its Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan for believing in my strategic vision, growth plan, and passion for this league. LIV Golf is the world’s first global golf league and, with the best teams and players competing around the world, it represents sports entertainment at the highest level.”

Norman also commented:

“First and foremost, congratulations to Scott. He is exactly the type of experienced professional who understands the unique and powerful combination of entertainment and sports that LIV Golf exemplifies. The league will be in very good hands with him at the helm. I started this journey more than 30 years ago, knowing in my heart and mind that the game of golf and its professional players were undervalued, delivering a product that felt stagnant. With LIV Golf, we changed the game forever. None of this would have been possible without the vision and leadership of LIV’s Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan. He always knew what was possible and he never wavered from his belief that golf and the business of golf could be more than it was in the past.”

LIV Golf will look to continue to add value to its business model and build upon its entertaining and new style of golf. Bolstering stronger TV ratings will be the next way the league can compete with the PGA TOUR.

Cover Image via Deseret News