LIV Golf: CEO Scott O’Neil bullish about future, says league ‘pushing the envelope’

LIV Golf boss Scott O’Neil said his organisation was “pushing the envelope” as fast as it could in a bullish state of the union-style address at the end of the league’s media week in Florida.\nIn an upbeat assessment of the tour’s future, O’Neil said he was excited for what was coming, a day after Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cam Smith confirmed they had no interest in following Brooks Koepka back to the PGA Tour.\nSpeaking in a press conference alongside several senior executives, O’Neil expressed shock at the progress LIV had made in his first year in charge, which he said was a “testament to the team”.\n“LIV is clearly at the top of the pyramid of golf outside the US. We are the world’s golf league,” O’Neil said.\n“We are excited about what’s coming, and we are pushing the edge and the envelope as far and as fast as we can, and it’s great to work here.”\n\nAnd while the relationship with the PGA is far from perfect, O’Neil said he had been welcomed with “open arms” by the likes of Mark Darbon and Mike Whan, his counterparts at the R&A and United States Golf Association, respectively.\nHeading into a fifth season with increased prize money, a change to 72 holes and a hope that greater risk of relegation will bring world ranking points, the LIV boss said he thought the league was on the verge of bigger and better things.\n“I feel like everywhere we turn, there are more and more people that want to see some structure and framework emerge in global golf, and I think we’re on the precipice of that,” he said.\nThe Asian Tour may find itself at the centre of that change, with O’Neil revealing plans for a “remaking and reshaping” of the International Series, the 10 elevated events that provide a pathway to LIV for the Tour’s members.\nEstablished in 2022 with an initial US$300 million cash injection from what was LIV Golf Investments, the series has grown to include tournaments around the world, with the Link Hong Kong Open being one of them.\nThis year, the Fanling event was one of six around the world given Masters and Open Championship qualifying spots. Tom McKibbin won November’s tournament with a record score of 27-under-par.\nAccording to O’Neil, the next iteration of the series will involve national opens and working with “some of the gifted and talented people at the golf federations around the world”.\nLast year, the Asian Tour included the New Zealand, Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia opens on its schedule, and officials are believed to be working on adding others to that list.\nLIV has stops in Australia, Spain and South Africa this season, while sources suggested some opens in Europe that have been relegated to second and third tier status on other tours could be involved.\n“You’ll likely see four or five or six coming in this year, but if you fast forward out two, three years, you’ll have 10 to 12 of the biggest national opens will become the International Series,” O’Neil said.\n“The reason is because we believe that national opens will drive more fans, drive more viewership and drive more people to this great game.”\n