Greg Norman has been replaced as LIV Golf CEO by Scott O’Neil – and Jon Rahm believes the decision was made due to the Australian’s “bad blood” with golf’s governing bodies
Jon Rahm has suggested that the decision to replace Greg Norman as CEO of LIV Golf could be due to the ex-world No. 1’s “bad blood” with other golfing authorities.
After steering the LIV ship for its first three seasons, Norman’s tenure at the helm has ended, with Scott O’Neil stepping into his shoes. It’s been a rocky road for both Norman and the breakaway league, finding themselves in the eye of the storm.
Notably, Norman’s leadership faced resistance from their rivals at the PGA Tour, and he also had difficulties reaching an agreement with the Official World Golf Ranking over securing ranking points for the league. Despite having a solid relationship with Norman, Rahm believes the controversy surrounding him means it’s the right time for the Aussie to step down.
Rahm said: “You know, even though Greg has treated me great, 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.”
“I think, unfortunately, there’s been a little bit, possibly a little too much bad blood between Greg and maybe the governing bodies, and to have somebody outside of that might help the situation.”
The Spanish golfer made these comments after failing to make the cut at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour. Rahm is setting his sights on the LIV Golf League’s upcoming season opener in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a positive outlook on the league’s new leadership.
Speaking about the fresh direction under the guidance of the former NBA executive, Rahm shared: “His overall view with what a league or an organization could work and should work with his experience in the NBA, right. With that, and based on what I talked to him about and the vision he has and his enthusiasm.”
Rahm also believes that the appointment of O’Neil at the helm of LIV could be instrumental in resolving the ongoing feud with the PGA Tour.
“Yeah, I think so,” he said when asked if the change was beneficial for golf. “I think having an outsider, I say outsider because he has not been involved, could be a very good thing when it comes to him sitting down at the table with the other governing bodies. I think an outside perspective, and maybe a less, possibly a less threatening image, might help that, as well.”
Despite a disappointing performance in Dubai where he missed the cut after a second-round 77, Rahm is eager for a comeback, eyeing a return in 2026 for what he calls “redemption”.
“If the schedule allows, I would like to be here next year and hopefully get some redemption. Because I do believe this is a golf course and a tournament, if I were to play 20 years, I would win. I like it. It seems like the type of golf that I like to play.”
