LIV Golf officially announces Scott O'Neil as league's second CEO, replacing Greg Norman

A long-anticipated signing has now been made official.

The LIV Golf League announced Scott O'Neil as its new Chief Executive Officer on Wednesday, replacing Greg Norman, who will remain involved with LIV Golf.

Previously, O’Neil served as CEO of Merlin Entertainments, responsible for overseeing the business operations and global growth across its 140-plus attractions in 23 countries. Before Merlin, O’Neil served as CEO for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), a portfolio of professional sports, entertainment and investment properties, where he oversaw more than $2 billion of growth in enterprise value.

"On behalf of the Board of Directors, we welcome Scott to the LIV Golf family, knowing he will capitalize on everything that has been accomplished over the past three years," LIV Golf Board Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan said in a release. “Scott has the passion, the tenacity, and the vision to continue leveraging LIV Golf’s position as a pre-eminent, global sports and entertainment company and to lead our amazing teams and players for years to come.

"When we launched LIV Golf, there was no one that made more sense to lead the organization other than Greg Norman. I thank him for everything he has done to establish, launch and grow our league. He has been instrumental to LIV’s success."

O’Neil has led some of the sports and entertainment industry’s most renowned and iconic brands and properties, including the NBA’s New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers, the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, the NHL’s New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils as well as sports venues Madison Square Garden and Prudential Center.

"The opportunity to lead a global sports league is a dream come true. I am grateful and humbly thank the members of the LIV Golf Board of Directors and its Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan for believing in my strategic vision, growth plan, and passion for this league," O'Neil said in a release. "LIV Golf is the world’s first global golf league and, with the best teams and players competing around the world, it represents sports entertainment at the highest level.

"What LIV Golf has achieved in just three years is remarkable – the game has been infused with a long overdue bolt of energy and innovation with the team model, players have increased freedom and rights, fans are getting the access they have always wanted, and the game has been brought to new markets that have been desperate for elite golf for decades.

"There has never been a better time to unlock real financial investment, bring team golf and innovation to the forefront, drastically lower the fan age demographic and put fan experience and fun at the center of everything we do. LIV Golf represents the future of the sport and will ensure the future of the golf ecosystem for years to come."

Norman said LIV Golf will be in good hands with O'Neil at the helm. His future role with the league was not announced.

“First and foremost, congratulations to Scott. He is exactly the type of experienced professional who understands the unique and powerful combination of entertainment and sports that LIV Golf exemplifies," Norman said in a release. "I started this journey more than 30 years ago, knowing in my heart and mind that the game of golf and its professional players were undervalued, delivering a product that felt stagnant. With LIV Golf, we changed the game forever. None of this would have been possible without the vision and leadership of LIV’s Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan. He always knew what was possible and he never wavered from his belief that golf and the business of golf could be more than it was in the past.”

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Scott O'Neil announced as new LIV Golf CEO, replaces Greg Norman