Rory McIlroy spoke about Greg Norman’s departure (Image: Getty Images)
has hailed ‘s decision to appoint Scott O’Neil as the new CEO, following Greg Norman’s departure, as a positive step.
LIV Golf announced on Wednesday that Norman would be stepping down from his role at the helm of the controversial golf series, with O’Neil set to take the reins.
Despite being a vocal critic of both LIV Golf and Norman, McIlroy offered some praise for Norman’s efforts. Speaking to journalists, he said: “Greg took a lot of flack the first couple of years. He is probably one of the only guys in golf who could have taken on that role. He got off the ground and you have to commend him for that, now it is time for someone with a bit more experience to take over.”
Previously, McIlroy had been less complimentary about Norman, even suggesting over two years ago that Norman should step down to allow for a peaceful coexistence between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
“I think he just needs to exit stage left,” McIlroy stated back then. “He’s made his mark, but I think now is the right time to sort of say, ‘Look, you’ve got this thing off the ground, but no one is going to talk unless there’s an adult in the room that can actually try to mend fences’.”
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Greg Norman has stepped down as LIV Golf CEO (Image: Getty)
The incoming CEO, O’Neil, is familiar to McIlroy, having been present at The Showdown in December where McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler faced off against Brooks Koepka and .
O’Neil was also in attendance at the TGL launch last week, alongside golfing greats McIlroy and Tiger Woods. Having become acquainted with his work, McIlroy spoke highly of O’Neil: “Scott was at our Showdown match in Vegas and obviously Greg was as well. Then Scott was at the first night of TGL. He has an impressive track record in sports, managing teams and ownership groups.”
O’Neil steps into the role during a tumultuous period in men’s professional golf, as the PGA Tour is still in talks with LIV backers, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF). It is hoped that O’Neil’s appointment will bring some stability to the game, given his good relationship with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. Monahan, who has been central to the ongoing peace talks with PIF, often relies on McIlroy as a key player ally.
The future of both the PGA Tour and LIV setup remains uncertain, but McIlroy recognises that the rival league is here to stay. “I honestly don’t know what the future holds for [LIV],” he admitted. But the moves they are making, especially from an executive standpoint, suggest they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.”