Jon Rahm believes replacing Greg Norman as LIV Golf CEO with “outsider” Scott O’Neil could lead to less “bad blood” with golf’s governing bodies.

Jon Rahm believes LIV Golf's decision to replace Greg Norman with Scott O'Neil as the new CEO will give the breakaway Saudi circuit a "less threatening image" and help negotiations with the rival PGA Tour.

Jon Rahm was in the Persian Gulf this week, playing in the DP World Tour's Hero Desert Dubai Classic. It is one of the more iconic tournaments on the European Tour each year. Rahm posted a respectable opening round, but fell flat Friday, carding a 5-over 77. That was enough to send him home packing for the weekend.

Jon Rahm’s season debut was cut short Friday after a few errant drives led to a second-round 77 and a missed cut at the Dubai Desert Classic.

Norman, the 1986 and 1983 Open champion who will continue with the league in an ambiguous role, often came off as divisive when LIV entered the golf scene. He called McIlroy "brainwashed by the PGA Tour" in 2022, putting Norman in the four-time major champion's crosshairs.

Rory McIlroy is gearing up for a head-to-head with Ryder Cup ally Jon Rahm as he readies to lock horns with the LIV Golf convert at the loaded Hero Dubai Desert Classic, boasting a hefty purse.

Jon Rahm feels LIV Golf may have a "less threatening image" now that Australian golfing great Greg Norman is not at the helm of the Saudi-based tour.

Jon Rahm appealed DP World Tour sanctions for playing on LIV Golf in late 2024, and while he may not know when an independent panel will hear his case, he does know where he intends to be this fall.

Scott O'Neil replaced Greg Norman as LIV Golf CEO on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. O'Neil previously was CEO of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Rory McIlroy had some rare words of praise for Greg Norman after it was confirmed the Australian had been replaced as LIV Golf CEO

I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished or more pleased with where the league stands today," Greg Norman says of LIV Golf.

LIV Golf has formalized a multi-year agreement with Fox Sports to air live broadcasts of the Saudi circuit in the United States. The deal, rumored for months and first reported by the Sports Business Journal, will move the fledgling league from the CW Network to a sports-first platform.