Rory McIlroy put previous variations with Greg Norman apart to say the Australian deserved to be recommended for serving to launch LIV Golf after the two-time main winner’s departure from the chief govt function on the Saudi-funded breakaway tour was confirmed.
American Scott O’Neil has been appointed as the brand new chief govt of LIV Golf, taking on day-to-day administration of the Saudi-funded breakaway from Norman, who will stay concerned with the tour.
Norman was a divisive determine in golf’s ongoing civil struggle, with each McIlroy and Tiger Woods beforehand calling for him to stop.
McIlroy stated in November 2022 that Norman ought to “exit stage left” to permit the “adults” to barter a deal between golf’s warring factions.
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Greg Norman’s time working LIV Golf has come to an finish, because it was introduced he has been changed by Scott O’Neil
However greater than two years on from these feedback, and along with his stance in direction of LIV having considerably softened over the previous 12 months, McIlroy had hotter phrases for Norman though nonetheless backed the timing of the change of chief.
“Greg took a lot of flak in the first couple of years,” McIlroy was quoted as saying by the Guardian after his opening spherical on Thursday on the Hero Dubai Desert Basic, which is stay on Sky Sports activities Golf this week.
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Have a look again at the very best of Rory McIlroy’s 4 worldwide wins in 2024 – the Hero Dubai Desert Basic, the Zurich Basic of New Orleans, the Wells Fargo Championship and the DP World Tour Championship
“He is most likely one of many solely individuals in golf that would have taken on that function. So he acquired it off the bottom and you have to commend him for that. Now it is time for somebody with a bit extra expertise to take over.
“I honestly don’t know what the future holds for them, but the moves they’re making, especially from an executive standpoint, it doesn’t look like they’re going to go away anytime soon.”
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Norman had success in attracting among the greatest gamers on the earth to LIV Golf, comparable to Spain’s Jon Rahm
O’Neil has sports activities and leisure administration roles, together with being CEO of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and most not too long ago heading up theme park operator Merlin Entertainments.
“Scott was at our showdown match in Vegas [where McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler for the PGA Tour beat LIV duo Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau] and so was Greg,” McIlroy added.
“”Scott was on the first night time of TGL too. He has acquired a tremendous monitor report by way of what he is accomplished in sport, by way of managing totally different groups and teams of groups, possession teams.”
“He is acquired the fitting credentials to take over a sports activities league. For LIV it is most likely a superb transfer now that they are established.”
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Northern Eire’s Tom McKibbin is the newest participant closely linked to a swap to LIV Golf
Asserting O’Neil’s appointment on Wednesday, LIV Golf chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan stated: “On behalf of the board of directors, we welcome Scott to the LIV Golf family, knowing he will capitalise on everything that has been accomplished over the past three years.
“Once we launched LIV Golf, there was nobody that made extra sense to steer the organisation apart from Greg Norman.
“I thank him for everything he has done to establish, launch and grow our league. He has been instrumental to LIV’s success.”
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Sky Sports activities may have prolonged protection from all 4 rounds of the Hero Dubai Desert Basic, with Featured Teams stay from 4am every morning on Sky Sports activities Golf and bringing bonus motion forward of the primary motion.
Full protection begins at 7.30am on Thursday and Friday forward of getting underneath approach from 7am over the weekend, with all 4 rounds of the PGA Tour’s American Specific and the Latin America Novice Championship additionally stay on Sky Sports activities. Stream the DP World Tour, majors and extra with NOW.
