“Unfortunately, there was a little bit – maybe a little too much – bad blood between Greg and maybe the governing bodies,” said Rahm, who joined LIV in December 2023.
“And having someone else might help in this situation.”
O’Neil was CEO of Merlin Entertainments and was responsible for business operations for the company’s more than 140 attractions. He previously served as CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils.
While LIV Golf will return next month for its fourth season, O’Neil’s priority will likely be finding a resolution to talks between the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund – LIV’s financial sponsor – and the PGA Tour.
PGA Tour Enterprises and PIF are in discussions about whether Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund will become a minority investor, though it is unclear how that will impact both leagues or any path to reuniting golf’s top players after an acrimonious split.
“I think having an outsider — I say ‘outsider’ because he wasn’t involved in this — could be very good in terms of getting him to come to the table with the other governing bodies,” Rahm said.
“I think an outside perspective and maybe a less threatening image can help with that as well.”
Rahm was speaking after the second round of the Dubai Desert Classic, in which he missed a race and the title was won by LIV’s compatriot Tyrrell Hatton.
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