Rory McIlroy to get his wish as LIV Golf prepare to axe controversial figure as replacement lined up
Rory McIlroy’s wish is set to come true with Greg Norman reportedly on the verge of being replaced as LIV Golf’s CEO.
Norman was at the forefront of LIV’s emergence and he wasn’t shy in ruffling a few feathers along the way.
That divisive personality angered the likes of McIlroy, who felt he was hampering any hopes of a peace deal between the warring tours.
Speaking at the peak of the tensions between the PGA and LIV back in November 2022, McIlroy called on Norman to step aside.
He said: “I think he just needs to exit stage left.
“He’s made his mark, but I think now is the right time to sort of say, ‘Look, you’ve got this thing off the ground, but no one is going to talk unless there’s an adult in the room that can actually try to mend fences’.”
While McIlroy’s stance against LIV softened by the end of last season, the Northern Irishman still felt that Norman’s time was up.
Ahead of holding talks with PIF chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, McIlroy claimed Norman had done more damage than good.
McIlroy said: “I think I’ve said this before, I have spent time with Yasir and the people that have represented him in LIV I think have done him a disservice, so [Greg] Norman and those guys.
“I actually think there’s a really big disconnect between PIF and LIV. I think you got PIF over here and LIV are sort of over here doing their own thing.
“So the closer that we can get to Yasir, PIF and hopefully finalise that investment, I think that will be a really good thing.”
Norman’s future with LIV had been up in the air with just one year remaining on his current contract.
It’s now being reported that LIV have settled on a new chief executive with theme park boss Scot O’Neil set to take Norman’s place.
Merlin Entertainments, which owns Legoland, Chessington and Alton Towers announced on Wednesday that O’Neil was stepping down as their CEO to take up ‘another opportunity’.
He will leave his role with immediate effect at the end of the year with the LIV Golf season starting in February.
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It’s unclear what O’Neil’s appointment will mean for Norman, although it’s been suggested he will be given another role.
Norman played a key role in helping LIV get to the point where it’s proven to be a huge attraction for the game’s biggest stars.
Talks are ongoing between the PGA Tour and PIF to try and negotiate a deal for the future of golf.