LIV Golf officially announced on Wednesday, January 15, that Scott O'Neil will replace Greg Norman as CEO of the league. Norman will remain involved with the circuit in another capacity.
The news was released by the official LIV account on X (formerly Twitter), which posted a picture of the new CEO with the following text:
"We’re excited to welcome Scott O’Neil as our new CEO! With 25+ years leading iconic teams like the Knicks, 76ers, Rangers, and Eagles—and venues like MSG—Scott’s ready to take LIV Golf to the next level. Welcome to the team!"
According to a press release posted on the LIV website, the decision to replace Greg Norman is effective immediately. It also states that the appointment of Scott O'Neil as the new CEO represents the reach of LIV's early success.
Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), had this to say about the move:
"On behalf of the Board of Directors, we welcome Scott to the LIV Golf family, knowing he will capitalize on everything that has been accomplished over the past three years. Scott has the passion, the tenacity, and the vision to continue leveraging LIV Golf’s position as a pre-eminent, global sports and entertainment company and to lead our amazing teams and players for years to come." [via www.livgolf.com]
Scott O'Neil, for his part, had this to say:
"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."
Greg Norman steps down as LIV's top executive after three seasons in which the league hosted more than 30 tournaments in several countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Who is the new CEO of LIV Golf?
Scott O'Neil has more than 25 years of sports industry management experience in a variety of capacities. His resume includes stints with the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL), and the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL).
O'Neil has also managed major sports venues such as Madison Square Garden in New York and the Prudential Center in New Jersey.
Most recently, O'Neil served as CEO of two global companies, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which manages a portfolio of professional sports, entertainment, and investment properties, and Merlin Entertainments, which controls more than 140 amusement parks in 23 countries around the world.