DORAL, Fla. — In a recent statement, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil revealed that while he has been in his role for three months, he has not actively participated in the ongoing discussions between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour regarding potential reunification. O’Neil stated that he does not consider reaching an agreement as essential, though he remains open to collaboration if it benefits the sport.
The negotiations, involving the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, have been under way for over a year, with former President Donald Trump occasionally involved. Progress appears sporadic, with moments of advancement interspersed with setbacks.
“If the deal can help grow the game of golf, I’ll jump in with two feet,” O’Neil remarked at Trump National Doral, a location where LIV will host competitions this weekend and where Trump’s attendance is anticipated as early as Thursday. “Is a deal necessary? Not necessarily. It’s favorable as long as our shared objective is to expand golf as a sport.” The complexity of this shared vision might be one reason a consensus hasn’t been achieved yet.
The emergence of LIV Golf almost three years ago has created a notable schism within the sport. Key golfers like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, and Brooks Koepka face bans from the PGA Tour, restricting head-to-head competition among top-ranked players to the four majors each year.
“We all had hopes that things would be further along, and that’s pretty widely known,” commented Koepka. “Regardless of your position, progress is always something you desire. It feels like things are moving in the right direction, however.”
Earlier this year, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan expressed optimism about a potential deal. “We believe there’s room to integrate important aspects of LIV Golf into the PGA Tour platform,” Monahan stated. “We’re doing everything in our power to unite both sides.”
Monahan emphasized the focus of meetings with the Public Investment Fund revolved around reuniting top-tier talent more frequently. “Our team is fully committed to reunification,” Monahan affirmed.
O’Neil, familiar with Monahan, has been cordially invited to Augusta National for the Masters next week. O’Neil, in a conversation with several journalists, shared his positive outlook after three months with LIV Golf, noting unexpected competitiveness among players even outside the tournament setting. He hinted at forthcoming lucrative sponsorship deals and anticipates better ratings now that LIV events are scheduled during U.S. prime time, following venues in Saudi Arabia, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore that aired overnight for American audiences.
“We’re not privy to all the developments, but based on what we’ve heard, there’s substantial positive momentum and growth on the sponsorship front,” DeChambeau stated.
O’Neil highlighted LIV’s success in broadening golf’s appeal, noting that 30% of their fans are first-time tournament attendees and 40% are women. “We’re a global sport, akin to the Formula 1 of golf,” O’Neil explained. “F1 likely attracts more viewers in the Asia-Pacific region when racing in Singapore than they do in Miami. I’m very happy with where we stand.”