The PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s proposed merger has been in the works for what feels like forever. But recently, things have started moving—fast. Recently, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and Player Director Adam Scott met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House to seek his assistance in the negotiations with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). That’s a pretty big deal, and it suggests that the two sides are inching closer to sealing the deal.

But while the PGA Tour and PIF are still sorting out the fine print, LIV Golf’s new CEO, Scott O’Neil, isn’t waiting around quietly. Nope—he’s making it crystal clear where he thinks LIV stands in the golf world. And he’s got the numbers to back it up.

During a recent interview, O’Neil was asked about LIV Golf’s Adelaide event and its significance to the league. His response? LIV isn’t just setting the bar for itself—it’s setting the standard for every golf tournament, period. “I don’t only think it’s our 13 other events that need to be measured against this. It’s every golf tournament in the world,” O’Neil said. “But the way we talk about it internally is this is now the ceiling. We want it to become the floor. So how do we live? And we have some amazing cities coming up. You know, we’re back in Mexico, but this time in Mexico City. Outside of the majors, if you want to see the best players in the world, there’s only one place to see it, and that’s at LIV.”

That’s a direct shot at the PGA Tour, which has been LIV’s biggest rival since day one. O’Neil isn’t just saying LIV is an alternative—he’s saying it’s the destination for the best golf on the planet.

O’Neil’s confidence isn’t just talk. LIV Golf’s Adelaide event has been a home run, and the viewership numbers prove it. The first round alone saw a total TV reach of 882,000 viewers on Channel Seven in Australia, with an average audience of 170,000. Those are serious numbers, showing that LIV’s global expansion—particularly in Australia—is working.

And LIV isn’t just testing the waters in Adelaide—it’s planting its flag there for the long haul. O’Neil confirmed that a long-term deal has been secured, keeping the tournament locked in through 2031. “We just announced today that we’ll be back through 2031,” O’Neil said. “The Premier and the state are making a great commitment, and the Lord Mayor has made a commitment. So we’re here, we’re happy, we’re in it for the long haul, and we are just getting started.”

While LIV Golf celebrates its success and flexes its growing influence, the PGA Tour is still working through merger discussions with PIF. And based on O’Neil’s comments, LIV isn’t exactly worried about the outcome. If anything, he’s doubling down—LIV sees itself as the superior product, and he’s making sure everyone knows it.

LIV Golf Adelaide has been the lifeline of the league

For all the challenges LIV Golf has faced, Adelaide has been its crown jewel—the one event keeping things rolling while the rest of the league fights for relevance. In 2023, Australia accounted for a staggering 45% of LIV’s total revenue, practically carrying the operation on its back.

The numbers tell the story. The 2023 Adelaide event pumped $65 million into South Australia’s economy, with over 77,000 fans showing up—40% of them traveling from outside the state. Fast forward to 2024, and that number jumped to $71 million in economic impact. And now? The 2025 edition has shattered records, drawing over 100,000 fans across three days. Demand was so high that 90,000 tickets were sold before the event even teed off.

That’s a stark contrast to LIV’s struggles in the U.S., where some tournaments have battled weak attendance and lukewarm interest. But in Australia, LIV has struck gold. The country doesn’t see many top-tier pro golf events, and LIV’s party-like atmosphere has made it a must-see spectacle. Then there’s The Watering Hole, LIV’s own version of the wild 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale. In 2023, Chase Koepka’s ace turned the place into a beer-soaked madhouse, and this year, Patrick Reed kept the chaos alive. It’s become a signature moment for the event—one that cements Adelaide as LIV’s rowdiest, most electric stop.

As LIV rides its Adelaide success, the PGA Tour is still playing catch-up. And with the merger still in limbo, one thing is certain—LIV isn’t waiting around to prove its worth.