Scott O’Neil has formally hit the one–year mark as LIV Golf’s CEO, and he says he’s much more bullish at the moment than when he took the job 11 months in the past.
With the 2026 season set to open in Riyadh and the league nonetheless making an attempt to stabilize its id, funds, and aggressive credibility, O’Neil sat down with SBJ to interrupt down the place LIV Golf stands and the place it’s (hopefully) headed.
Why LIV Ditched 54 Holes for a 72-Gap Format
LIV made certainly one of its largest structural modifications this fall, quietly asserting a shift to 72-hole tournaments starting in 2026. In line with O’Neil, the transfer was about one factor: the majors.
He mentioned sentiment throughout the league was clear. If LIV gamers are going to compete on the largest levels, their week-to-week format must match the majors. The choice additionally conveniently helps their newest push for Official World Golf Rating factors.
O’Neil confirmed LIV Golf resubmitted its OWGR software early in 2025 and that he has been in constant communication with OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman.
He mentioned LIV Golf has a “puncher’s likelihood” to obtain factors earlier than the 2026 season however admitted there may be nonetheless “so much to do on each side.”
Clearly, there’s extra optimism than earlier than, however nothing near assured.
The Monetary Actuality: LIV Golf Is Nonetheless Burning Money
LIV posted a $460 million loss in 2024 (non-U.S. operations solely), a quantity that places into perspective how costly this experiment continues to be. O’Neil mentioned they’re nonetheless in the center of constructing the league the proper manner: setting the technique, finalizing the construction, and hiring the proper folks.
That course of included new industrial companions akin to HSBC and Salesforce, plus bringing on longtime sports activities govt Chris Heck as LIV’s new president.
O’Neil mentioned the momentum is actual and that LIV “exceeded expectations” in 2025, although expectations when he arrived have been admittedly low.
The Brooks Koepka Query
Brooks Koepka has been certainly one of LIV’s cornerstone gamers since 2022, but his contract expires after the 2026 season. A number of golf sources have instructed Koepka could not even play for LIV Golf in 2026 regardless of being signed.
O’Neil averted specifics, sticking to LIV’s coverage of not commenting on particular person contracts, however did verify Koepka is signed for 2026.
If Koepka ever seeks a PGA Tour return, issues get sophisticated. Former LIV gamers have confronted one-year suspensions earlier than reentering the Tour, however none of them had an current Tour card like Koepka. If he adopted the similar path, he might be eligible once more round August 2026. That complete scenario, nonetheless, remains to be an enormous query mark.
The Relationship With PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp
O’Neil and new PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp return to Harvard Enterprise Faculty, and O’Neil has been publicly optimistic about Rolapp’s hiring. Requested how their conversations have gone since Rolapp took over, O’Neil mentioned each agreed to maintain discussions personal.
He additionally provided an fascinating prediction. The PGA Tour will stay the dominant participant in the United States, whereas LIV goals to be the dominant international league. How these two entities coexist, cooperate, or collide remains to be undetermined.
Scott O’Neil clearly believes LIV Golf is trending upward.
The league nonetheless faces main credibility hurdles: monetary losses, the OWGR battle, participant uncertainty, notion points, and long-term sustainability questions. Internally, O’Neil says LIV feels stronger than it did a 12 months in the past.
The following 12 months will reveal whether or not LIV is definitely turning a nook or just persevering with an costly international experiment ready to be validated.
