‘Baeksang-eo’ Norman, LIV Golf CEO to Step Down?

US Media Reports O'Neill's Imminent Appointment as New Head
Talent with NBA and NHL CEO Experience
Norman Unlikely to Renew Contract Before August Next Year

‘White Shark’ Greg Norman (Australia) is expected to step down as the head of LIV Golf.

Greg Norman, CEO of LIV Golf

American media outlets such as Sports Business Journal reported on the 27th (local time), citing sources, that "LIV Golf will announce Scott O'Neil (USA) as the new head next week." O'Neil is a figure who has worked in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Hockey League (NHL). He served as CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL's New Jersey Devils, and recently worked as CEO of Merlin Entertainments, a global resort operator.

As O'Neil emerges as the new head of LIV Golf, attention is also focused on the future moves of Norman, the inaugural CEO. Norman, a former golf player, was the architect of LIV Golf, which launched in June 2022. Leveraging massive financial resources, he recruited numerous top-tier players from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour), expanding the size of the latecomer LIV.

However, as merger talks between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf have recently begun, Norman's influence has started to wane, and there have been reports that Saudi Arabian oil capital (PIF), the sponsor of LIV Golf, will dismiss Norman. Norman's term runs until August 2025. The LIV Golf 2025 season opener will be held on February 6 next year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.