Report: Greg Norman set for LIV Golf exit

LIV Golf commissioner Greg Norman is set to be replaced as early as next week, according to a report. 

SBJ's Josh Carpenter reported last month the breakaway tour were exploring the idea of replacing Norman. 

It was suggested Norman would be 'moved upstairs' and replaced with a top executive. 

Brett Yormack, the commissioner of the Big 12 Conference, held 'advanced talks' but the deal did not get over the line. 

Now Sky News have reported that LIV have finally found their man: Scott O'Neil. 

O'Neil has reportedly stepped down as the chief executive of Merlin Entertainments to take over the reins from Norman. 

Merlin Entertainments runs a number of theme parks including Alton Towers, Legoland and Peppa Pig World. 

Carpenter has also backed up Sky News' report, saying the deal with O'Niel is 'at the one yard line'. 

The announcement could be made next week, the report added. 

It should be noted this is not the first time there have been multiple reports suggesting Norman's time as LIV CEO was up.

Norman has been involved with LIV Golf since its inception. 

In October 2021, he was announced as the chief executive of LIV Golf Investments. 

LIV Golf held their inaugural event in June 2022 and the elite men's game has been divided ever since. 

Superstar golfers such as Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm have all joined LIV for deals worth more than $100m. 

All of those players remained banned from participating in PGA Tour events. 

Norman's tenure with LIV has been marked by disruption, innovation and controversy. 

The Australian downplayed the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by agents of the Saudi government. 

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is LIV Golf's primary backer. 

"We've all made mistakes," Norman said, which prompted Sean Bratches to resign as LIV's first chief commercial officer. 

Khashoggi's widow also chewed out Norman for the remark. 

LIV's inability to secure world ranking points has also frustrated players, with several players now frozen out of the majors. 

The breakaway have now abandoned their pursuit of OWGR accreditation. 

Norman has also had his fair share of success, too. 

The rise of LIV has pushed the PGA Tour to raise their purses and create new initiatives to retain their top players.

It could also be argued he has achieved his lifelong vision having previously tried and failed to start a breakaway golf league in the 1990s. 

Norman recently discussed what those early days were like in an interview with GOLF. 

He said the 'hatred' he received was 'disgusting'. But it was worth it. 

"Nowhere in my entire journey in the last three years since I've been CEO and commissioner [of LIV Golf] has someone come up to me and said, 'What you are doing is wrong', he said.  

"And I think that's a powerful enough testament of saying that our product is our product and our product is received with open arms by many."

Norman is yet to comment on the report by Sky News and SBJ. 

More follows. 

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