Report: LIV Golf expected to name Scott O'Neil as new CEO

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has found LIV Golf's next CEO.

Scott O'Neil, the former Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment CEO, is expected to be tabbed as Greg Norman's replacement, sources told The Athletic's Brendan Quinn.

O'Neil is also reportedly expected to be named commissioner, and an announcement could come as early as next week, sources told Sports Business Journal's Josh Carpenter.

HBSE owns the NHL's New Jersey Devils and the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers. O'Neil became the 76ers' CEO in 2013 before the company was created in 2017 to oversee the Devils as well.

O'Neil left HBSE in 2021 and became the CEO of London-based theme park company Merlin Entertainments in 2022 before stepping down earlier Wednesday.

Carpenter reported in October that PIF, which funds LIV Golf, was searching for a new CEO to replace Norman. However, Norman is expected to remain with the league in a senior role.

The PIF and the PGA TOUR are continuing negotiations after agreeing to the framework of a merger deal in June 2023. PIF has been searching for an established CEO who can potentially help move talks along.

Norman has clashed with several key figures in the golf world as LIV's CEO, including Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. McIlroy notably claimed in 2022 that Norman "needs to exit stage left."