Scott O’Neil is quickly gaining fans in his new place of work, LIV Golf. The Harvard alum assumed charge only two weeks back. Jon Rahm, speaking a day after the news broke, already sounded excited. “I think having somebody like Scott who is a little bit outside the world of golf but very much in the world of sport, I think makes him kind of a perfect match for that.” Now you can hear that echo in his colleague’s voice as well.

Fellow LIV Golf pro, Carlos Ortiz was asked if Scott O’Neil’s appointment would affect LIV’s stance on world ranking points. Before answering that tricky question, Ortiz spoke about Scott O’Neil. The 33-year-old Mexican pro, now in India for the LIV Golf International Series, revealed they have already met him. 

Ortiz said, “This change of leadership, I think, we as players have noticed Scott is doing an unbelievable job.”  The ‘change of leadership’ was a matter of speculation for months. So far, Greg Norman has overseen the day-to-day task of managing the operations. He has also served as (occasionally) the de facto spokesperson for the league. 

The latter part caused some stir given PGA Tour and LIV Golf were aligning their goals – to end the war and get down to business. It was time for a change, and PIF started looking for a new chief last year. 

Entered Scott O’Neil into the picture. The veteran is not a familiar name in the golf circle but comes with a wealth of experience in the sports industry. He has worked with Philadelphia Eagles, and New Jersey Nets before moving to the marketing role at the NBA. He has also served as the CEO of the Philadelphia 76ers, and then Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment. David Blitzer, part of the same group, owns the Jupiter Links GC of TGL jointly with Tiger Woods. Most recently he was the CEO of Merlin Entertainments. 

O’Neil has already teed off, and he is making birdies. Carlos Ortiz in the same press conference added, “We met him a couple of weeks ago, and we are all pleased with the way he is seeing things. The way he is taking over.” LIV Golf doesn’t officially commence till February 8.

Notably, O’Neil was also spotted at SoFi Center during TGL’s inaugural match. Interestingly, the announcement of LIV’s broadcast deal with Fox Sports was announced on the heels of his joining. If it appears that the Harvard alum didn’t take time after (or before) assuming change, it perhaps is true. He actually has his task cut out very clearly. 

The new LIV Golf CEO will have a series of challenges to tackle

World ranking point has been LIV’s bugbear since the fledgling league’s inception. Last year, Greg Norman suddenly withdrew LIV’s proposal from OWGR’s table. It looks unlikely that O’Neil will reverse the decision. “Our time with the world rankings has passed,” said the veteran CEO in an interview with The London Times.

The only alternate route for its players to tee off in the majors is a direct pathway. So far USGA CEO, Mike Wahn, could ‘envision’ a direct path for LIV golfers, but not just yet. Other major organizers have refused to offer that leeway. O’Neil needs to change that perception.

O’Neil also has to iron out the final few differences between the PGA Tour board and PIF, the financial arm that powers LIV Golf. Former CEO, Greg Norman, meanwhile, will move to more of an advisory role, as his latest comments indicated. 

The PIF International Series has brought in a hoard of LIV Golf players in India. Bryson DeChambeau became the first reigning major champion to tee off in India in a professional tour-sanctioned event. In addition, Ortiz’s teammate, Joaquin Niemann, and other LIV Golfers like Harold Varner III, Paul Casey, and Abraham Ancer will have entered the field.