Rory McIlroy thinks LIV Golf is making moves to establish itself for the future.
On Wednesday, the league announced Scott O’Neil as its new CEO, replacing Greg Norman, who will remain with LIV Golf in an unnamed role. After his opening round 70 on Thursday at the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic, McIlroy was asked by reporters about the move.
“I saw Scott was confirmed,” McIlroy said. “Scott was at our Showdown match in Vegas and obviously Greg was as well. Then Scott was at the first night of TGL.
“He has an amazing track record with what he has done in sports, in terms of managing teams and groups of teams, ownership groups. He has got the right credentials to take over a sports league. I think for LIV it is probably a good move now they are established.”
High praise from world No. 3, who in the past has been a staunch opponent of the breakaway league. Even Wednesday, when McIlroy was asked about his protégé possibly signing with the league, he said he advised him against it.
Even though McIlroy said moving on from Norman was best for LIV Golf, he did tip his cap to The Shark.
“Greg took a lot of flack the first couple of years,” McIlroy said. “He is probably one of the only guys in golf who could have taken on that role. He got it off the ground, and you have to commend him for that. Now it’s time for someone with a bit more experience to take over.
“I honestly don’t know what the future holds for them but the move they are making, especially from an executive standpoint, it doesn’t look like they are going to go away anytime soon.”
If anything, the moves and changes LIV has made this offseason make it seem like they are more comfortable going head-to-head against the PGA Tour in 2025. Only time will tell how that works out.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Rory McIlroy: Greg Norman gone as LIV Golf’s CEO is ‘good move’
