PGA Tour/LIV Golf

Rory McIlroy actually paid Greg Norman a compliment in the wake of his departure as LIV CEO

January 16, 2025
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Andrew Redington

Rory McIlroy has never hidden his frustration with Greg Norman, frequently criticizing the Australian as he helped launch the LIV Golf League and, in McIlroy’s mind, initiated the schism with the PGA Tour that has harmed men’s professional golf. But when asked about the news on Wednesday of Greg Norman being replaced as LIV Golf CEO by established sports executive Scott O’Neil, McIlroy offered a relatively magnanimous response.

“Greg took a lot of flak the first couple of years,” McIlroy said after finishing up an opening-round 70 at the DP World Tour’s Hero Dubai Classic. “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.”

OK … so there was a bit of a zinger there at the end. McIlroy also unsurprisingly added the change in leadership “probably a good move,” specifically considering the business acumen of the man stepping in for Norman.

O’Neil, who previously oversaw the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and NHL’s New Jersey Devils along with a stint running Madison Square Garden, had been making the rounds in golf circles in recent months as word got out that the Saudi Public Investment Fund, LIV Golf financial backers, were interested in the long-time sports executive. McIlroy noted that O’Neil was in attendance at The Showdown in December and the first night of the TGL earlier this month.

“I honestly don’t know what the future holds for them, but the moves that they’re making, especially from an executive standpoint, it doesn’t look like they’re going to go away anytime soon,” McIlroy said. “Scott’s got an amazing track record and has the right credentials to take over a sports league. So, yeah, I think for LIV it’s probably a good move now that they’re established.”

Arguably one of golf’s most feisty feuds hit a high point around November 2022. That’s when McIlroy noted that if there was any chance at resolving the split between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, it would require Norman to “exit stage left.”

“He's made his mark, but I think now is the right time to sort of say, look, you've got this thing off the ground but no one is going to talk unless there's an adult in the room that can actually try to mend fences.”

Around the same time, Tiger Woods echoed McIlroy’s sentiments. But Norman responded by saying he wasn’t going anywhere and taking umbrage with both McIlroy and Woods.

“I pay zero attention to McIlroy and Woods, right?,” Norman said. “They have their agenda for whatever reason. They’re saying whatever they want to say. It has no bearing or effect on me. I’m going to be with LIV for a long, long period of time.”

Although LIV officials say Norman will continue working for the league in an unspecified capacity, that long period, at least as the public face of LIV, ended this week.