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Australian Greg Norman was replaced as a managing director of Liv Golf, the League defended by Saudi Arabia announced on Wednesday.
Liv announced that the experienced sports director Scott O’Neil was succeeded in this position in Norman, former winner of the British Open.
“O’Neil will direct the strategic vision, commercial operations and global growth of the League, its 13 teams and its list of world class golfers, as well as its efforts to generate a positive impact,” said Liv Golf in A press release.
“Greg Norman, who played a decisive role in the launch of Liv Golf as the first CEO and Commissioner, will confide daily management, but will remain involved in Liv Golf,” added the League.
Norman, 69, is a polarizing figure in the gap between the PGA Tour and the Liv Golf start-up, owned by the Saudi public investment fund (PIF).
Rory McILroy, a leading player of the PGA Tour, said in 2022 that Norman “must leave” if there were a reunification of sport.
A controversial merger framework agreement was announced in June 2023 by the American commissioner at the PGA circuit, Jay Monahan, but despite a appeasement of tensions between the belligerent factions, no agreement was finalized with the PIF led by Yasir al- Rumayyan.
O’Neil, 54, worked as CEO of Merlin Entertainments and was previously CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment.
“On behalf of the board of directors, we welcome Scott in the Liv Golf family, knowing that it will capitalize on everything that has been accomplished in the past three years,” said Al-Rumayyan, President of the Council Administration of Liv Golf.
“Scott has the necessary passion, tenacity and vision to continue to take advantage of Liv Golf’s position as a global business of sports and pre -eminent entertainment and to direct our incredible teams and players for the years to come”, he added.
Al-Rumayyan, who is also president of the Premier Calcastle United football club, congratulated Norman for his contribution to the League.
“When we launched Liv Golf, nobody made sense more than Greg Norman to direct the organization. I thank him for everything he did to establish, launch and develop our league. He played a decisive role In Liv’s success, “he said.
The talks between Liv and the PGA Tour exceeded the deadline set last December and continued with little progress since then, leaving the elite of male golf course to have trouble planning a future with the best talents distributed between PGA Tour and the Liv.
SEV/RCW
