Rory McIlroy can’t resist sly dig as Greg Norman’s LIV Golf replacement is revealed

Rory McIlroy

There’s a new CEO in place at LIV Golf – and outgoing Greg Norman has had his say. As has Rory McIlroy…

“LONG LIV GOLF!”

Those were the three words Greg Norman exclaimed after his replacement as CEO and commissioner of the Saudi-backed league was confirmed.

It’s been one of golf’s worst-kept secrets in recent months, with LIV Golf actively – and publicly – recruiting for Norman’s replacement.

The man they have gone with is Scott O’Neil, whose career has seen him head up the company that managed NBA franchise the Philadelphia 76ers and NHL’s New Jersey Devils, as well as being the president of Madison Square Garden. Most recently, O’Neil was the CEO of Merlin Entertainments, a London-based company that operated more than 150 theme parks and resorts around the world.

For Norman, though, there are no hard feelings.

“First and foremost, congratulations to Scott. He is exactly the type of experienced professional who understands the unique and powerful combination of entertainment and sports that LIV Golf exemplifies.

“The league will be in very good hands with him at the helm. I started this journey more than 30 years ago, knowing in my heart and mind that the game of golf and its professional players were undervalued, delivering a product that felt stagnant.”

Norman added: “With LIV Golf, we changed the game forever. None of this would have been possible without the vision and leadership of LIV’s chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan. He always knew what was possible and he never wavered from his belief that golf and the business of golf could be more than it was in the past.

“I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished or more pleased with where the league stands today. I’m excited to pass the baton of day-to-day management and continue to help do what I can to grow LIV Golf.”

• Where did Greg Norman rank in our 100 Most Influential People in Golf?

On the other side, there were some kind words from the unlikeliest of sources.

Rory McIlroy has been one of LIV Golf’s fiercest critics since the breakaway league was founded in 2021, and he and Norman have exchanged digs on a number of occasions as a result.

But the four-time major champion – at first – seemed like he wasn’t in any mood to kick his old foe while he’s down.

“Greg took a lot of flack the first couple of years,” McIlroy told reporters ahead of this week’s Dubai Desert Classic. “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.”

McIlroy, along with Tiger Woods, as part of the so-called framework agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, made no secret of their desire for Norman to not be a part of any negotiations, such was the wedge the Australian had driven between the tours and their biggest stars.

And while Norman “made his mark”, McIlroy believes O’Neil is the right person to help move golf into a peacetime era. But even in sympathy, McIlroy couldn’t resist a sly nibble at his rival.

“It is time for someone with a bit more experience to take over,” he added.

“[Norman] made his mark, but I think now is the right time to 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.’”

Meanwhile, Al-Rumayyan, who as well as being LIV’ Golf’s chairman is the head of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, said: “When we launched LIV Golf, there was no one that made more sense to lead the organization other than Greg Norman. I thank him for everything he has done to establish, launch and grow our league. He has been instrumental to LIV’s success.”

On O’Neil, he added: “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.”

About the Author

Alex Perry – News Editor

Alex has been in the golf industry since 2007 and has helped shape a number of publications in that time. He also spent several years at ESPN and joined Today’s Golfer in January 2025 to lead the brand’s news division.

He is a keen golfer playing off 12 and enjoys traveling the world to try new courses. His three favorites, though, are all in the UK: Royal North Devon, the Old Course at St Andrews, and Royal Portrush – with special mentions for his home clubs, Okehampton and Bude & North Cornwall, where he first fell in love with the game.