LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil has declared that the insurgent league is under no obligation to reach a concord with the PGA Tour. Appointed as the successor to Greg Norman at the helm of LIV this season, O’Neil held a press conference at Trump National Doral just days before the start of the high-profile LIV Golf Miami event set for Friday. High on the agenda was the state of discussions regarding a potential truce that might heal the division created by LIV Golf’s emergence in 2022.
A seasoned sport industry leader, with stints at the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia 76ers in his portfolio, O’Neil addressed questions about the ongoing negotiations involving the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) – the financial powerhouse behind LIV – and the PGA Tour. There seemed to be forward motion toward an agreement early in 2025, especially following President Donald Trump stepping into the fray as a mediator.
O’Neil disclosed his absence from discussions that involved President Trump, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan. Nonetheless, he insisted that LIV Golf’s future is not contingent upon any deal being struck. According to him, LIV can thrive independently.
“Have to do a deal? No,” said O’Neil firmly. “Nice to do a deal? So long as we’re all focused on the same thing, which is growing the game of golf. I think we’re all kind of up for that.
“This is not my deal. Hope all goes well and does what’s best for golf. If that’s a deal, great. If it’s not a deal, great. We’re pretty good stead.”
Following O’Neil’s appointment, LIV Golf managed to secure a broadcasting agreement with FOX Sports, yet the TV ratings for the league have been less than stellar across its first four events this season. To be fair, these tournaments were held in far-flung locations and outside of US primetime viewing hours.
The real test for LIV’s viewership is set to occur this weekend at Miami’s Blue Monster, where FOX will air the opening and closing rounds, while FS1 will broadcast Saturday’s second round. O’Neil has cautioned journalists against placing too much emphasis on the TV ratings thus far, expressing his preference to be assessed based on the upcoming event’s performance.
“Some of the news was a bit disappointing for me to read,” he admitted regarding the viewership numbers. “Is this weekend important? Of course, it is. This one is important in the US, for the US broadcast, and it’s on FOX, and that’s an exciting opportunity. I have no problem being judged. Judge me this week, for sure.”
Despite the hurdles LIV faces, as well as those confronting men’s professional golf as a whole, O’Neil remains optimistic about the future of the league. He confidently stated: “I will say I love what we’re doing. I love our prospects. I love the growth in three months. I know what’s coming in the next three months. And I like where we are.”
This article originally appeared on Mirror US
