LIV Golf CEO defiant as he breaks cover following Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed exits

Scott O’Neil insists LIV Golf remains in a strong position despite losing two of its biggest stars to the PGA Tour.

Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed both left the Saudi-backed league ahead of the 2026 season, becoming the first headline names to depart the circuit.

To many, the exits of major champions Koepka and Reed represent a significant blow to the league, now in its fifth season in operation. 

Unlike previous transfer windows defined by marquee signings, the latest one saw high-profile departures — and questions about the league’s depth.

Rory McIlroy last month hit out at LIV after seeing a lack of stars join for 2026. 

Earlier this week, the grand slam champion went further by claiming the PGA Tour's incoming changes to the 2027 schedule will possibly "entice" others to follow the lead of Koepka and Reed. 

But despite missing out on a number of top targets for 2026, LIV's CEO O'Neil is delighted with the league's current operation. 

Speaking during this week's second event of the season at LIV Golf Adelaide, O’Neil doubled down on the league's long-standing commitment to player movement and cited they are just fine without Koepka and Reed. 

“It’s a wonderful time to be in professional golf. There’s certainly a lot of movement and quite a bit of action, and we have advocated for free agency in golf since day one of LIV,” O'Neil told reporters in Australia. 

“Being able to have a field of 57 players and lose a couple is perfectly fine. I have such affinity and affection for our legends of the game and the superstars, Bryson, Dustin, Cam, Jon Rahm. It’s a pretty amazing roster of stars.

“I’m equally intrigued by this emerging young core of stars, yeah. I think we’re in as good a hands as we’ve ever been. Strength of field is as good as it’s ever been. I think that’s only going to continue.”

While Koepka and Reed’s departure reduces LIV’s established star power, O’Neil pointed to the strength of the remaining roster — including DeChambeau, Johnson, Smith and Rahm — as well as a growing wave of younger talent.

That youth movement delivered an immediate statement at the opening event of the 2026 campaign.

Elvis Smylie, 23, claimed victory at LIV Riyadh last week, underlining the league’s push to build depth beyond its headline names. The win also carried added significance, with LIV events now awarding Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.

Smylie surged from 133rd to 77th in the world following his breakthrough triumph, moving within 27 places of the top 50 required to qualify for The Masters.

The qualification deadline comes at LIV South Africa, the fifth event of the season. Only top-10 finishes in the league’s 57-man fields earn ranking points, meaning consistency is crucial.

To realistically secure a spot at Augusta National, Smylie will likely need at least two more top-five finishes over the next four events to climb inside — and stay inside — the world’s top 50.