LIV chief executive Scott O’Neil insists golf is in ‘really good shape’ as merger talks continue

SINGAPORE – LIV Golf’s new chief executive Scott O’Neil has stepped into his role during a transformative period for professional golf.

Uncertainty persists as reunification talks between the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and its Saudi backers, the Public Investment Fund, continue without resolution.

While O’Neil “would rather not speculate” on how a potential merger might impact the breakaway series, he remains optimistic, asserting that golf is in “really good shape”.

In an interview ahead of the March 14-16 LIV Singapore, O’Neil said: “We’ll see what happens with the future. If something happens, that would be absolutely wonderful and if something doesn’t happen, we’ll all be wonderful.

“The game of golf is in really good shape – there’s so many committed people. I’ve had the good fortune of walking into the sport from the outside and I’ve been welcomed with open arms.”

The American was appointed LIV’s chief executive in January, taking over former Australian world No. 1 Greg Norman, who oversaw the league’s formative years since its launch in 2022.

Although his most recent role was chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, a global company operating theme parks and attractions, O’Neil is a seasoned sports veteran.

He has had experience working with National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League and National Football League outfits. He also worked in the NBA’s league office and was president of Madison Square Garden Sports, which manages professional sports teams.

While this may be his first foray into professional golf, he had been following the developments in the past few years.

Now LIV’s top man, O’Neil maintained faith that the PGA Tour and LIV can coexist amid questions about golf’s future.

He said: “We have a lot of respect for Jay (Monahan, PGA Tour commissioner) and the PGA, they’re doing some wonderful things.

“They’re a great American sports league and we’re a global sports platform more akin to Formula One, so the two sit in a complementary way.”

O’Neil has spent his first two months in charge getting to know the people within the organisation as it works towards its vision to “grow the game of golf and take the biggest stars in the game to the four corners of the world”.

What he has experienced at several LIV stops has impressed him. He cited how the Adelaide event – one of the league’s most popular tournaments with the official attendance figure at 102,483 from Feb 14 to 16 – saw 40 per cent of attendees coming from out of the state. He also noted that the March 7-9 Hong Kong event attracted fans from 40 countries.

On what he sees for LIV in 10 years, he said: “I see festivals all over the world and these festivals are anchored by the incredible golfers we have. I see a music festival, an art festival and a food festival surrounding those three days.

“I see us anchored in cities, partnering with governments who want to drive tourism.”

LIV’s challenge to the status quo was one of the key factors that drew O’Neil to the role. Since then, other innovative golf formats have emerged, including Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL), which has also made headlines.

Launched in January, the league blends virtual and real-life play, with mic’d-up PGA Tour players hitting shots at a five-storey simulator screen before transitioning to a green that rotates 360 degrees, creating dynamic hole variations.

Through its first 15 telecasts, the virtual-golf league is averaging 502,400 viewers per outing.

When asked about TGL and whether LIV would explore virtual sports, O’Neil said he likes LIV’s current format and does not see the league adopting it for now.

He said: “I was at the opening day of the TGL and I have so much respect for the group that launched that league. Anyone who is committed to growing the game of golf, we will get behind and support.

“But one thing I took from my experience in Covid – I have a big family with four girls – we had a great time together, but we need to get out and experience things.

“I want my kids stretching and growing. I want them walking, moving, playing and live experiences will always have a prominent place in the world. They’ve had since the beginning of time and will have till the end of time.”