LIV Golf introduced this week that it employed former NBA government Scott O’Neill to function the league’s new CEO. O’Neill, after all, replaces the controversial Greg Norman, who served as commissioner because the league’s inception in 2022.
The information got here in the course of the Hero Dubai Desert Traditional, the place each Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy are starting their 2025 campaigns. When requested about O’Neill, each Rahm and Rory provided rave evaluations.
“I noticed Scott was confirmed,” McIlroy mentioned to Bunkered.co.uk whereas in Dubai.
“Scott was at our Showdown match in Vegas and clearly Greg was as effectively. Then Scott was on the first night time of TGL. He has an incredible monitor document with what he has carried out in sports activities, by way of managing groups and teams of groups, possession teams. He has acquired the best credentials to take over a sports activities league. I feel for LIV it’s most likely a superb transfer now they’re established.”
Rahm echoed these sentiments.
“I feel having someone like Scott, who’s somewhat bit outdoors the world of golf however very a lot on the earth of sport makes him sort of an ideal match for that,” Rahm mentioned after lacking the minimize Friday.
“Sadly, there’s been somewhat bit, presumably somewhat an excessive amount of unhealthy blood between Greg and possibly the governing our bodies, and to have someone outdoors of that may assist the state of affairs. Plus, [O’Neill’s overall view of what a league or an organization could work and should work with his experience in the NBA, right? With that, and based on what I talked to him about the vision he has and his enthusiasm, I think he’s going to be a very positive impact for LIV, and FOX, obviously, as well.”
The other big LIV Golf news this week is that the league struck a television deal with FOX Sports, a massive step up from its previous deal with the CW Network.
“Even though it’s mainly a U.S. thing to have the largest market, golf market in the world be able to watch LIV Golf on a channel that for the better part should be pretty much every TV in the country, it’s very good,” Rahm added.
“Looking forward to hopefully improving some years. A lot of improvement this year.”
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko.
