Rory McIlroy said on Thursday that removing Greg Norman as LIV CEO is a “good move” and his respected replacement suggests the Saudi-backed league will remain.
I spoke to reporters on Thursday after the 2-under 70 player kicked off his season at the Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour, McIlroy had some kind words for the departing Norman, who has been CEO and commissioner of LIV since its inception in the summer of 2022.
“The first couple of years, Greg was heavily criticized,” McIlroy told reporters. “He’s probably one of the few golfers who could take on that role. He managed and he should be commended for that. Now it’s time for someone with a bit more experience to take over. “
Norman will remain at LIV in an unnamed position, handing over day-to-day operations to Scott O’Neil, who has decades of experience as a former NBA and NHL executive. Most recently, O’Neil attended both The Showdown between PGA Tour and LIV stars and the TGL debut match. On Thursday, LIV also announced a new television deal with Fox.
“He has an incredible track record in sports in terms of managing teams and groups of teams, ownership groups. He has the qualifications to take over a sports league,” McIlroy told reporters. “I think it’s probably a good move for LIV now that they’re established.”
Over time, McIlroy’s tone toward LIV softened, and by November 2022, he was calling for Norman’s ouster. He then said that Norman needed to “step left off the stage” and that it was time for “adults” to work on a solution to the golf civil war.
O’Neil’s addition was further evidence, McIlroy said, that LIV probably wasn’t going anywhere.
“I honestly don’t know what the future holds for them,” McIlroy told reporters, “but the move they’re making, especially from a management standpoint, it doesn’t look like they’re going to be leaving anytime soon.”
