LIV Golf is undeniably having a moment, especially after its successful event in Adelaide, which attracted record-breaking numbers and solid fan engagement. And when a league is doing well, a little pride-fueled boasting is almost expected. That’s exactly what new LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil did recently when he confidently declared, “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.” Basically, O’Neil proclaimed that LIV isn’t just an alternative, but it’s the spot for elite golf. Mic drop.

While his confidence is admirable, not everyone is buying the hype. On a recent Golf Channel podcast, host Rex Hoggard and analyst Lav weighed in, and let’s just say they weren’t exactly convinced. “I felt like it was an unnecessary stray,” Hoggard noted about O’Neil’s comment. “Because where we are right now, we’re coming off of what, by all accounts, was a good week at least behind and at the front of the house.”

Sure we agree that LIV’s got momentum, but claiming it’s the place to watch the best players? That’s a bit of a stretch. We also agree that the numbers from Adelaide do support O’Neil’s stance as Channel Seven pulled in a total TV reach of 882,000 in Australia, with an average of 170,000 viewers. But that’s just one market. What about the rest of the world? LIV Riyadh, which preceded Adelaide, didn’t generate the same buzz, with players praising fast play but viewership numbers remaining stagnant. So, basing everything on one big event? Feels a little early to call. And honestly, insiders aren’t wrong to call it out.

Merger talks are still up in the air

Beyond O’Neil’s bold claim, insiders brought up an even bigger question—what’s actually happening with the LIV-PGA Tour merger? On the surface, it might seem like things are moving along (or at least that’s what we’re being shown), but behind the scenes? Who really knows? So far, neither league has given a clear update, and the waiting game continues.

“We don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes when it comes to the negotiations, but you had the Commissioner stand in front of reporters and actually sound optimistic about, yes, we’re going to get a deal done. We have to get a deal done for the health of the game. You had Adam Scott who maybe peeled back some of the layers and gave you an idea of exactly how this might work out. You had Tiger Woods who was by far the most optimistic person when he spoke. Sure. I don’t know if that’s necessarily going to be the case, but it was curious, especially the timing of it, simply because we were coming off what everyone seemed to think was a good week,” Hoggard said.

And he’s not wrong. Everyone from PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan to Adam Scott to Tiger Woods has weighed in, dropping vague but positive soundbites. Woods publicly stated, “I think that things are going to heal quickly. We’re going to get this game going in the right direction. It’s been heading in the wrong direction for several years, and the fans want all of us to play together, all the top players playing together, and we’re going to make that happen.”

With so much uncertainty surrounding the merger, O’Neil’s comment could be seen as more of a morale boost for LIV’s fan base than an actual reflection of reality. Right now, the best players in the world are still split between the two tours. But if the merger finally comes to fruition? Well, O’Neil may no longer need to make these claims—because, as Monahan and Woods envision, bringing all the top players back under one roof, just like fans have been hoping for.