Rory McIlroy has praised Greg Norman for his role in getting LIV Golf “off the ground” and is impressed with the latest CEO’s, Scott O’Neil, track record.
With Norman moving over as LIV boss for the business savvy Scott O’Neil, McIlroy acknowledged the new CEO’s impressive background and why LIV is not fading away.
Welcoming the new CEO
“I saw Scott was confirmed,” McIlroy told reporters here at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. “Scott was at our Showdown match in Vegas and obviously Greg was as well. Then Scott was at the first night of TGL.
“He has an amazing track record with what he has done in sports, in terms of managing teams and groups of teams, ownership groups. He has got the right credentials to take over a sports league. I think for LIV it is probably a good move now they are established.”
Frosty early days
In the early days of LIV things were not so amicable between Norman and Rory, as the Saudi backed league threaten the golfing infrastructure of the PGA an DP World Tours.
Back in November 2022, McIlroy told Norman to “exit stage left” to allow the “adults” to solve the fracture between the PGA and LIV, which still remains unresolved.
Praise from McIlroy
“Greg took a lot of flack the first couple of years,” McIlroy added. “He is probably one of the only guys in golf who could have taken on that role. He got it off the ground and you have to commend him for that. Now it’s time for someone with a bit more experience to take over.
“I honestly don’t know what the future holds for them (LIV Golf) but the move they are making, especially from an executive standpoint, it doesn’t look like they are going to go away anytime soon.”
