LIV Golf has announced the appointment of Scott O’Neil, the former CEO of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, to take over leadership from Greg Norman as the league prepares for its fourth season, as reported on Wednesday.

Recently, Sports Business Journal revealed that the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) intended to transition Norman into a different role. Norman has served as the CEO of LIV Golf since its inception as a competing league in 2022.

According to an unnamed source familiar with the situation, O’Neil, who is presently the CEO of Merlin Entertainments, will be stepping into his new role.

Merlin Entertainments, known for attractions such as Legoland and the Peppa Pig theme park in Dallas, announced on the same day that O’Neil is departing for a new opportunity.

O’Neil’s appointment comes at a time when the PGA Tour Enterprises is engaged in discussions with PIF regarding a potential minority investment, a crucial move aimed at mending the fractured golf landscape. This division has been prominent since notable players like Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Brooks Koepka left the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf, which offers lucrative signing bonuses, team competitions, and multi-million dollar prize purses.

An agreement was reached on June 6, 2023, between the PGA Tour, the European tour, and PIF, with a deadline to finalize arrangements by the end of 2023. However, that timeframe was not met. Since then, the PGA Tour has partnered with Strategic Sports Group for a significant $1.5 billion investment, which has the potential to expand further, granting players a stake in ownership.

Recently, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan were seen playing golf together at the Dunhill Links. Monahan also recently played golf alongside President-elect Donald Trump, who has a close relationship with Al-Rumayyan and whose courses were utilized by LIV Golf.

O’Neil’s hiring may alleviate some of the tensions felt by PGA Tour players towards Norman. In prior comments made two years ago—prior to the announcement of a framework agreement between the PGA Tour and PIF—Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy expressed that Norman needed to step down for any potential agreement to succeed.

LIV Golf is still in search of a broadcast partner for television, having primarily aired on The CW, and is gradually shifting its focus towards an international schedule for 2025.

Of the ten events announced so far for the upcoming season, just three will take place within the United States, with the inaugural event occurring two weeks post the U.S. Open in June, while the final two events are scheduled to coincide with the opening two FedEx Cup playoff events of the PGA Tour.

Before joining LIV Golf, O’Neil was at the helm of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, the organization behind the 76ers and Devils. He oversaw various construction initiatives and facilitated the merger of holdings between owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer during his eight-year tenure there.