LIV Golf to sack ‘their own Tiger Woods’ and big step taken to appoint replacement

LIV Golf are reportedly looking at sacking its CEO with the steps to appoint a replacement having ramped up in recent weeks. repetition of ‘step’

Greg Norman has held the role of CEO since the league was founded in 2021, but reports last month suggested the LIV bigwigs were looking to move on.

It’s now being claimed LIV have secured their replacement, with Scott O’Neil being touted as the most likely option.

Sky News reported on Tuesday that the CEO of Merlin Entertainments, which runs theme parks including Alton Towers and Legoland has stepped down

It is hinted Martin had left the position to take an ‘undisclosed role’ elsewhere, with The Sports Business Journal revealing O’Neil was in ‘advanced talks’ to take over from Norman as LIV Golf head-honcho

It’s also suggested Norman is expected to take up the league’s commissioner role, which is also currently held by Norman.

Norman has proved influential in getting LIV Golf where it is following the 2021 launch, but the Australian has also been praised for his impact on the sport as a player in the past.

Former player and current golf analyst David Feherty had likened Norman as a player to 15-time major winner Tiger Woods.

Speaking in an interview with National Club Golfer, Feherty said: “His fingerprints are all over this and always will be. People forget at times that before Tiger Woods, there was Greg Norman who brought that level of fitness.

The guy was able to win more than 100 tournaments in different parts of the world. It was Tiger Woods before Tiger Woods.”

Feherty added: “He was the most recognised person on the earth for a long time, the pirate look alight, sauntering around the golf course.

”He is such an engaging character, charismatic, larger than life if he does decide to take up a different post within the organisation, he will be influential, regardless of the level he occupies in the organisation.”

Koepka’s departure from LIV comes at a time when the golfing body backed by Saudi is in a fierce battle with the PGA Tour.

Since it was first announced, exactly 18 months ago, the arrangement agreed between the PGA Tour and European Tour and DP World Tour has sought to bring an end to golf’s civil warrior.

Almost two years on, little signs of improvement seem to have been made, common discussions concerning the agreement stay in a constant limbo.