What's next for LIV Golf? CEO Scott O'Neil says future ‘looks like Formula One of golf'
MIAMI — Not long after Abraham Ancer finished on the 18th green at LIV Golf Adelaide, his captain Sergio Garcia was there for a huge hug. The Fireballs GC won the team event but Ancer's finish — a sequence of bogeys to close the weekend — dropped him to second behind Joaquin Niemann, who took the individual win.
It was a welcome-to-team-golf moment for new LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil, who joined the league in January. O'Neil said he got the chills.
"I was like, what did I walk into? This is a gift," O'Neil told FOX Sports Wednesday ahead of LIV Golf Miami. "You have the greats of the game passing down their love and knowledge — and rooting for these young guys. I was like, 'Okay, team golf. I get it.'"
O'Neil took over for former CEO Greg Norman, who remains on LIV Golf's board of directors. O'Neil previously served as CEO and President of Madison Square Garden Sports, overseeing operations for the New York Knicks and New York Rangers, and then later took over as CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, where he oversaw the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils.
For this weekend, the focus is on Trump National Doral, the host course for LIV Golf Miami. O'Neil will oversee the event, which tees off on Friday and concludes Sunday — airing on FOX Sports. But it will also feature a Sublime concert, a Jacob Fellander art exhibit and "The Duels," a showdown match pairing the league's stars with golf influencers.
When it comes to the future of LIV Golf, O'Neil is intent on creating a product that looks like what he saw in Adelaide — not just in terms of the special moment between a superstar and a budding youngster, but also in recreating the energy and electricity that the Australian event brought.
"I know what the future looks like [for LIV]," he said. "It looks like Adelaide in 14 markets. And, to me, it looks like our players are welcome, and there's more outlets for them in the majors. I feel like it looks like Formula One of golf, and I feel the team concept will get traction. … We're three years old. Think about that. Having worked at the NBA and NFL and NHL, what do you think the NBA looked like at Year 3? And then you look at us, you're like, 'What we've done is impossible.'"
What is LIV Adelaide like? It's an electric and raucous party atmosphere where the focus is on the golf — but the league also offers a festival-type experience with music and events. The athletes love it. Jon Rahm has referenced it as the most fun event on the LIV calendar.
Will LIV expand to new courses? Will they bring in new stars? Will they add new teams?
"Yes, to any and all of those, so long as they're good for growing the game of golf," O'Neil said. "So if more teams do that, or some new players do that, yeah, we'll look at all of those things going forward."
O'Neil said that LIV has already reached 800 million homes this year — up 300 million over a year — thanks in part to broadcast relationships with FOX Sports, ITV and DAZN. O'Neil also said 30 percent of LIV event attendees are attending their first golf event. And 40 percent of the league's event attendees are women. The average age of attendees is 15 years younger than an average golf event.
In short, their demographic is different than the average golf fan.
"I want to be ambitious, and I want big eyes, and I want a big vision," O'Neil said. "And all that we have here. I walked into it. I inherited. It is amazing. But I also want to be patient and I want to be grounded in realism, and I want to enjoy this in the moment — like actually enjoy where we are with these stars and these young talent and these incredible courses and traveling around the world. … [The golfers] are wonderful ambassadors of the game and I think that really bodes well for where we're heading."
O'Neil didn't lose sight of the golfers he has in the current stable. And he wants to make sure the world gets to know his players better. The league will always be about the major winners and big stars. O'Neil appreciated the way that Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith and Dustin Johnson. But it's about building up the up-and-coming youngsters or out-of-nowhere veterans: Sam Munoz, Dean Burmester, David Puig and Tom McKibbin.
"There's some amazing stories and, quite frankly, I want some of them told," O'Neil said. "Ratings will be driven by stars, and sponsorship dollars will be driven by the stars. And, and these teams will be driven by the stars. I know that. But, man, the depth of this field is real."
O'Neil himself isn't a lifer when it comes to golf.
He has only just come to play the game and he's working hard at it — hitting the range on Wednesday after his meetings. And he kept saying that it has been "humbling" to pick up a club, particularly as he gets out more with some of the stars on the tour. Both Garcia and Mickelson have coached — or at least given tips — to O'Neil during their rounds together.
Garcia? He's the best coach of the group. But…
"Not very nice," O'Neil said with a laugh.
And Mickelson — well, he's not always a sweetie either.
"My favorite moment was with Phil and I hit a good shot. And he looked at me and said, 'Hmm, I didn't see that one coming.' I have laughed more than I've cried out there," O'Neil said. "[The swing] — it takes time."
When it comes to building the LIV brand, O'Neil seems to be building with that same balance of patience and determination that he has with his swing.
Prior to joining FOX Sports as an NFL and LIV Golf reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years covering the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna .
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
recommended
Get more from LIV Golf Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Adam Scott at another US Open and headed for century mark in the majors
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, tees off on the sixth hole during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Xander Schauffele tees off on the seventh hole during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Adam Scott, of Australia, tees off on the 14th hole during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Adam Scott, of Australia, prepares to hit out of a bunker on the 13th hole during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Adam Scott, of Australia, prepares to hit out of a bunker on the 13th hole during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, tees off on the sixth hole during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Xander Schauffele tees off on the seventh hole during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Adam Scott, of Australia, tees off on the 14th hole during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Adam Scott, of Australia, prepares to hit out of a bunker on the 13th hole during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — Adam Scott is one year away from an impressive streak that the Australian considers to be a classic glass half-full moment in golf. The U.S. Open is his 96th consecutive major championship appearance dating to the 2001 British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. Advertisement 'It sounds like a lot to have won one,' Scott said with a laugh, referring to his lone major title in the 2013 Masters. 'It would be twice as good if there was one more.' Still, he realizes he is approaching a big milestone. The PGA Championship next year, assuming he qualifies or gets an invitation, will be his 100th career major. He could make it 100 in a row if he makes it to Shinnecock Hills for next year's U.S. Open. A streak like that requires eligibility and good health. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson only had eligibility in their favor. Woods played 46 straight majors until knee surgery after he won the 2008 U.S. Open. Mickelson played 61 in a row before he sat out the 2009 British Open as his wife was being treated for breast cancer. The record is among the most untouchable in golf — Jack Nicklaus played 146 in a row from the 1962 U.S. Open through the 2008 U.S. Open. Advertisement 'Probably whenever it ends, whether it's 100 or more or less, I think it will be hard for guys to get to that number going forward,' Scott said. 'I think it's getting harder. And I think I have been a consistent player over a 25-year career. I could probably pick three troughs where my game was looking pretty ordinary and I fell outside the top 50 and I was really struggling. But over 25 years, I'd expect that of almost any player.' Scott had a few close calls in the U.S. Open. He made it through 36-hole qualifying with one shot to spare in 2018. He failed to make it through qualifying last year (he was first alternate) but became exempt at No. 61 in the world. Grayson Murray, who took his life in May 2024, was still ahead of him in the world ranking and the USGA went down one spot. Scott said Mickelson and Rory McIlroy are among the few who never went through bad spells or serious injury 'and we're talking about two of the greatest of their generation.' Advertisement McIlroy's streak was interrupted when he injured his left ankle and couldn't play the 2015 British Open. Oakmont is his 39th consecutive major. US Open prize money For the first time since 2021, the U.S. Open is not increasing its prize money. It will be $21.5 million for the second straight year, with $4.3 million going to the winner. It remains the biggest purse of the four majors. The Masters was $21 million this year, while the PGA Championship was at $19 million. The British Open hasn't announced its total purse for next month at Royal Portrush. It was at $17 million last year. The U.S. Open purse was $12.5 million in 2020 and 2021 before making a big leap to $17.5 million in 2022 at Brookline. Advertisement 'I feel comfortable that we've been a leader in moving fast and bigger,' USGA CEO Mike Whan said Wednesday. The Players Championship has a $25 million purse. The USGA and R&A get the bulk of their revenue from their Opens. They also use that money to invest back in the game, including the Women's Opens and amateur events such as the Walker Cup and Curtis Cup that several of the top stars once played. 'But at the same time, we understand. We want to be relevant,' Whan said. 'We know that this probably isn't really about the money for the person who puts it there, but at the same time, we want the money to be commensurate with the achievement. ... It's part of creating what we want to be the greatest championship in the game.' Driver testing Advertisement Xander Schauffele couldn't contain his laughter when he said both his drivers were tested this week and both passed the USGA limits of trampoline effect. It was no joking matter for Rory McIlroy at the PGA Championship when word got out that his driver didn't pass the test from too much use. Turns out Scottie Scheffler's driver didn't pass for the same reason, and they had to get new drivers. The results are supposed to be confidential. The post on McIlroy's driver was published without any context — the random testing at every major, and the service being done for players (and equipment makers) who otherwise would be unaware when the faces of the drivers become too thin from constant strikes. Whan said he felt stronger than ever to keep results private Advertisement 'In terms of what happened at the PGA Championship, it made us more committed to not wanting to have this be the topic of the town,' Whan said "Because I think when you talked about a rules violation or somebody who's playing with a hot driver, that gets so much more sensational than the reality. 'I can tell you as a rules body, if we had concern about this incredible advantage, we would change the degree in which we test,' he said 'But we think the testing that we're doing now is commensurate with the size of both the issue and the size of the reality of the issue.' Rain and rocks The Pittsburgh area had one of the wettest Mays in history, not ideal for a U.S. Open that would prefer Oakmont to be firm, fast and scary. Advertisement But it's not just the golf course. It can turn into a sloppy mess outside the ropes, and for some of the lots the U.S. Open is using for parking. That's why Whan was quick to celebrate Thomas Construction, a local company that has supplied gravel to create paths in walkways and parking lots. 'He no longer has gravel — true story — and he's only had one customer in the last 60 days — us,' Whan said. 'Suffice it to say, he told us there's more gravel here than in the quarry right now. And I apologize to all you (Oakmont) members. Good news is it's outside of the rope lines.' ___ AP golf:
Fox Sports
2 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Female athletes appeal landmark NCAA settlement, claiming it violates Title IX
Eight female athletes filed an appeal Wednesday of a landmark NCAA antitrust settlement, arguing that women would not receive their fair share of $2.7 billion in back pay for athletes who were barred from making money off their name, image and likeness. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken approved the settlement last week, clearing the way for direct payments from universities to athletes and the end of the NCAA's amateurism model. The athletes who appealed the settlement competed in soccer, volleyball and track. They are: Kacie Breeding of Vanderbilt; Lexi Drumm, Emma Appleman, Emmie Wannemacher, Riley Hass, Savannah Baron and Elizabeth Arnold of the College of Charleston; and Kate Johnson of Virginia. They have standing to appeal because they previously filed objections to the proposed settlement. Ashlyn Hare, one of the attorneys representing the athletes, said in a statement that the settlement violates Title IX, the federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in education. "We support a settlement of the case, but not an inaccurate one that violates federal law. The calculation of past damages is based on an error that ignores Title IX and deprives female athletes of $1.1 billion," Hare said. "Paying out the money as proposed would be a massive error that would cause irreparable harm to women's sports." The House settlement figures to financially benefit football and basketball stars at the biggest schools, who are likely to receive a big chunk of the $20.5 million per year that colleges are permitted to share with athletes over the next year. Some athletes in other sports that don't make money for their schools could lose their partial scholarships or see their roster spots cut. "This is a football and basketball damages settlement with no real benefit to female athletes," Hare said. "Congress has expressly rejected efforts to exempt revenue-generating sports like football and basketball from Title IX's antidiscrimination mandate. The NCAA agreed with us. Our argument on appeal is the exact same argument the conferences and NCAA made prior to settling the case." The appeal was filed by the law firm Hutchinson Black and Cook of Boulder, Colorado, and was first reported by Front Office Sports. It would be heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience NCAA Women's Soccer NCAA Women's Volleyball NCAA Women's Track and Field recommended Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Hamilton Spectator
2 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Canadian bantamweight boxer Amanda Galle signs with MVP, looks to add titles
TORONTO - Canadian boxer Amanda (Bambola) Galle already holds the IBO bantamweight title. Now the 36-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., wants to add to her collection. Galle (11-0-1) will get a bigger platform to do so, having signed with Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) co-founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian. 'I know it's going to put me on big cards with tremendous viewership … Just a bigger stage, a bigger audience,' Galle said of what she expects from the new partnership. 'Family members having the ability to tune in from their couch and watch me on TV.' After signing with MVP, Canadian lightweight (Prince) Lucas Bahdi found himself on the undercard of Paul's November 2024 bout with Mike Tyson before a crowd of 72,300 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where Bahdi won a majority decision over Italian Armando (La Furia del Quadraro) Casamonica. Shown on Netflix, the main event maxed out at 65 million concurrent streams. In addition to fighting before a bigger audience, Galle is looking to 'take my career to the next level and go collect all the goods that I'm working so hard for.' That would be the big four WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO titles. 'I want all the (championship) belts,' said Galle. The undisputed bantamweight (118-pound) title is on the line July 11 on MVP's all-women boxing card at Madison Square Garden, headlined by the trilogy fight between Ireland's Katie Taylor and Puerto Rico's Amanda Serrano for the undisputed super-lightweight title. The card sees American Shurretta Metcalf take on New Zealand-born Australian Cherneka Johnson with the bantamweight titles on the line. Galle won the vacant IBO title by in December 2023 defeating Venezuela's Niorkis Carreno and won a rematch last time out in December. She has won five straight since a draw with Mexico's Jaqueline Mucio Munoz in July 2022 and says she is ready to go again. 'I've been in the gym the last six months … feeling very strong, healthy and in shape,' she said. So ready that she told MVP that she is ready to step in, if needed, on the July 11 card. Denmark's Dina Thorslund was originally slated to face Metcalf in New York but has stepped away from fighting to have a baby. The MSG show also features Canadian Tamm Thibeault, a former Olympian and world amateur middleweight champion from Shawinigan, Que., who takes on American Mary Casamassa. Montreal's Jessica Camara takes on England's Chantelle Cameron on the card for the WBC interim super-lightweight title. Galle was handled previously by DiBella Entertainment and Toronto-based Lee Baxter Promotions. 'I have to give them gratitude that they did keep me busy' Galle said. 'And Lee Baxter brought the IBO world championship belt to my backyard in Toronto, so I was able to fight for it in front of all my fans … I displayed an Italian buffet of punches.' She said that win made her realize 'I could be the best. I can beat the best.' That's because Carreno fought Thorslund in April 2022, losing a unanimous decision for the WBO bantamweight title. 'And she gave (Thorslund) a hell of a more difficult time than she gave me,' added Galle. Galle started in combat sports at age six, earning her black belt in karate after being inspired by TV's 'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.' Switching to boxing, she had her first fight at 16 and went on to win three national titles (on 2009, 2013 and 2018). Galle turned pro in 2019. Her nickname Bambola is Italian for doll. 'Fourteen years as an amateur (boxer), six years as a pro, I'm doing 20 years of boxing and I still classify my face as being a beautiful doll. So I'm fulfilling that name all right,' she said with a chuckle. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) in early childhood education, Galle has always trained at All Canadian Martial Arts Academy in Mississauga. Today she teaches boxing at the gym's academy. She is also an ambassador for Fight To End Cancer in honour of her mother, who died in 2022 — nine years after being diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. Galle won the Canadian super-bantamweight title two weeks before her mother died. —- This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025 Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
