‘Do you hear yourself?’ Fans hit back as new LIV Golf boss makes striking ‘best players’ claim

Golf fans were quick to point out the errors of Scott O’Neil’s ways after the LIV Golf CEO told viewers he has the ‘best players in the world’ playing in his league

It didn’t take long for Scott O’Neil to fall in line at LIV Golf.

The league’s new commissioner and CEO, who took over from Greg Norman a month ago, raised a few eyebrows at LIV Golf Adelaide on Sunday during a short stint on the broadcast alongside analysts Arlo White, David Feherty and Jerry Foltz.

O’Neil explained how the incredibly popular Adelaide showcase was the blueprint for LIV Golf events around the world – “it’s now the ceiling but we want it to become the floor” – and noting that new stops in Mexico and South Korea will service two “golf starved markets”.

And while he conceded that “it doesn’t happen overnight”, he is confident of building on the success of Adelaide elsewhere.

“You have a public-private partnership, you have corporate support, you have fans that want it,” he said.

“And you don’t have to look too far past our leaderboard to know that, outside of the majors, if you want to see the best players in the world, there’s only one place to see it – and that’s at LIV.”  

Fans were quick to point out that these comments could have been timed better given the current two best players in the world, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, were about to tee up in the same group as they chased glory at the Genesis Invitational, while others were keen to note that PGA Tour players have won eight of the 10 majors since LIV’s inauguration, and three of the four last year.

Another didn’t beat around the bush: “Do you hear yourself?”

And Normal Sport’s Kyle Porter pointed out that the Data Golf rankings – which, unlike the Official World Golf Ranking, include LIV golfers – have just five in the top 50.

Those defending O’Neil’s comments, meanwhile, suggested that it’s his job to toe the company line.

That deal between the PGA Tour and PIF still feels like a long way off, doesn’t it?