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Rory McIlroy said on Thursday that the removal of Greg Norman as LIV CEO was a “good move” and that his respected replacement suggested the Saudi-backed league was here to stay.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday after a season-opening 2-under 70 at the DP World Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic, McIlroy had a few kind words for Norman, who has served as LIV’s CEO and trustee since its inception in the summer of 2022.
“Greg had a lot of fits the first few years,” McIlroy told reporters. “He’s probably one of the few guys in golf who could fill that role. He picked it up off the ground and you have to commend him for that. Now it’s time for someone with a little more experience to take over.”
Norman will remain with LIV in an unnamed capacity, leaving day-to-day operations to Scott O’Neil, who has decades of experience as a former NBA and NHL executive. Recently, O’Neil also attended The Showdown between PGA Tour and LIV stars, as well as TGL’s debut match. LIV also announced its new TV deal with Fox on Thursday.
“He has an incredible track record with what he’s done in sports, in terms of managing teams and groups of teams, ownership groups. He has the right credentials to take over the sports league,” McIlroy told reporters. “I think it’s probably a good move for LIV now that they’re established.”
McIlroy’s tone towards LIV has softened over time, and he called for Norman’s ouster as early as November 2022. At the time, he said Norman needed to “leave stage left” and that it was time for “grown-ups” to work on a solution by civil war in golf.
O’Neil’s addition was further evidence, McIlroy said, that LIV probably isn’t going anywhere.
“Honestly, I don’t know what the future holds for them,” McIlroy told reporters, “but the move they’re making, especially from an executive standpoint, doesn’t look like it’s going away anytime soon.”
