LIV Golf has recognized its new chief and is predicted at hand its reins to longtime sports activities and leisure government Scott O’Neil.
O’Neil will exchange Greg Norman, the unique LIV CEO and architect of the breakaway league that reshaped the skilled golf panorama over the last three years, in response to a supply briefed on the matter, who was granted anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to talk publicly.
In October, Sports activities Enterprise Journal reported the Saudi Arabian Public Funding Fund’s intentions to shift Norman out of the CEO position and into a brand new place. That very same month Norman informed Sports activities Illustrated that his contract with LIV would expire in August 2025.
On Wednesday morning, Sports activities Enterprise Journal reported O’Neil’s emergence because the seemingly alternative as new CEO. An individual briefed on the matter confirmed O’Neil’s choice to The Athletic on Wednesday. A LIV Golf spokesperson declined to touch upon the matter.
O’Neil has labored as CEO of Merlin Entertainments since 2022, overseeing one of many world’s greatest operators of theme parks and resorts, together with Legoland properties. Merlin introduced Wednesday morning that O’Neil was departing for “one other alternative” and standing down as CEO efficient on the finish of 2024.
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With O’Neil anticipated to be introduced as LIV CEO, it’s unclear how a lot energy Norman, 69, will preserve. The 2-time Open Championship winner continues to be a present member of LIV’s board of administrators.
O’Neil is most well-known for his time as CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports activities & Leisure, the dad or mum firm of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils. In an eight-year run, he oversaw a number of building tasks and enlargement alternatives and stewarded the merger of holdings between Sixers and Devils homeowners Josh Harris and David Blitzer. He oversaw “the method,” the Sixers’ a lot publicized, typically celebrated, sometimes maligned, rebuilding that resulted in a franchise turnaround however, finally, restricted playoff success.
“I bear in mind what it was like once we first walked in right here, and to assume we’ve grown this enterprise, over $2 billion in worth over six instances in eight years, that’s what I do. Hypergrowth, tremendous development,” O’Neil informed the Related Press on the time of his 2021 departure.
In taking up LIV, O’Neil will steer the league via a cloudy future decided by prolonged negotiations between the PGA Tour and the PIF. The 2 sides, having first come collectively in June 2023 to create a brand new entity with mixed property (together with LIV), have but to finalize a construction. Negotiations blew previous the unique deadline earmarked for the top of final 12 months.
It’s nonetheless anticipated that PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan will finally finalize some settlement that may want approval by DOJ antitrust officers. The place LIV will slot in that is still to be seen.
The league has developed towards an more and more worldwide schedule that, whereas rising the model internationally, creates issues in securing a long-term TV provider in the US. With 10 of 14 occasions scheduled proper now for 2025, solely three are within the U.S. and none earlier than June.
O’Neil, an alumnus of Villanova and Harvard Enterprise Faculty, additionally held front-office positions with the New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Rangers.
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(High picture: Bradley Collyer / PA Photos by way of Getty Photos)
