I’m All In: Fresh Insights from New LIV Chief Amid Stalled PGA Tour Merger Talks

Scott O’Neil, the new CEO of LIV Golf, has acknowledged that he hasn’t actively engaged in the discussions aimed at uniting his tour with the PGA Tour since he took on the role three months ago.

Moreover, he doesn’t necessarily see a deal as essential.

Negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia have been unfolding for over a year, occasionally featuring involvement from President Donald Trump. There have been moments when progress appeared promising, but there have also been times of stagnation.

“If a deal can contribute to the growth of golf, I’m all in,” O’Neil remarked at Trump National Doral, the venue where LIV will compete this weekend, and where Trump might make an appearance as early as Thursday.

“Is it crucial for us to strike a deal? Not really. Is it preferable? Absolutely, as long as we’re all concentrated on the common goal of expanding the game of golf.”

The implications of this remain ambiguous, and could be part of why no agreement has been reached so far.

The chasm in the golf world has persisted for nearly three years since LIV Golf’s inception. Players from LIV, including stars like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, and Brooks Koepka, are barred from participating in PGA Tour events. Consequently, the elite players only face off four times a year at the major tournaments.

“We all hoped it would be a bit more advanced by now; that’s not a secret,” Koepka commented.

“Regardless of where you are, there’s always the hope that things are progressing quicker. But they are indeed making strides, and it appears to be trending positively.”

Earlier in the year, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan expressed optimism about the possibility of a deal being reached.

“We believe there is potential to incorporate significant elements of LIV Golf into the PGA Tour framework,” Monahan stated last month.

“Our commitment is to facilitate the reunion of the two parties.”

Monahan also mentioned that the focus of discussions with the PIF revolves around bringing the top players together more frequently. “Our team is fully dedicated to the reunification effort,” he affirmed.

O’Neil and Monahan are familiar with one another, and O’Neil has received an invitation to Augusta National for next week’s Masters.

During an interview with a select group of reporters, O’Neil expressed his optimism regarding his first three months at LIV.

According to him, the players are displaying a level of competitiveness off the course that exceeded his expectations. He noted that several sponsor agreements have been finalised and are awaiting announcement. He firmly believes that ratings will improve now that LIV is playing in North America, as opposed to the challenging time zones faced during its initial four events in Saudi Arabia, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

“While we don’t have full visibility, what we are hearing indicates a lot of positive growth and momentum in terms of sponsorship,” DeChambeau remarked.

O’Neil highlighted what he perceives as beneficial growth for LIV, pointing out that 30% of its fanbase are newcomers to live golf events, and 40% of attendees are female.

“We are a global sport. We are to golf what Formula 1 is to motorsports. I imagine that F1 has a larger audience in the Asia-Pacific when racing in Singapore compared to their numbers in Miami,” O’Neil commented.

“I’m content with our current position. I genuinely am.”