CEO Scott O'Neil: "We are confident, we are excited about what's coming, and we are pushing the edge and the envelope as far and as fast as we can."
WEST PALM BEACH — LIV Golf is making changes with the hopes of receiving Official World Golf Ranking points, and CEO Scott O'Neil hopes that accreditation comes by the start of the 2026 season.
The subject has been a sticking point for the Saudi-backed league since it was initially rejected in October 2023. It took O'Neil replacing Greg Norman for LIV to reapply for accreditation in 2025.
O'Neil and OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman have spoken frequently. O'Neil hopes those conversations lead to a favorable resolution and soon. LIV's season starts Feb. 4 in Saudi Arabia.
"The intention is to get this done before the season starts," said O'Neil, who spoke from LIV media days at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. "That's the intention. But hey, I don't have a vote, ironically enough. So hopefully that news comes through."
LIV looking for world ranking points after going to 72 holes
O'Neil is counting on several changes — including LIV going from 54 to 72 holes — to help that process.
"The move to 72 holes was much talked about," O'Neil said. "For us, that was relatively simple. We want to make sure that our players are best prepared for the majors, that it’s not as much of a sprint, that our teams have a chance to recover after a tough day one.
"And with the overwhelming support we have seen in several of our markets, quite frankly, more content is better. More fans come in, more broadcast content, social hospitality. So it was good for business, great for golf, and I think resoundingly supported by everyone in the ecosystem and certainly at LIV."
Other changes O'Neil believes enhances LIV's quest to receiving ranking points are an expanded Lock Zone (players assured of returning) and Drop Zone (relegation).
O'Neil has said several times he believes Immelman has the toughest job in the world.
"I've been a CEO for a long time and I've had different boards and they all come with their own complexities," O'Neil said. "His is made up of the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, and the four majors. And there's some people on that board that don't have a lot to gain by us getting world ranking points.
"We are trying to lean in as quickly as we can and as far as we can while keeping the integrity of the league to make sure that we're doing everything possible to do that decision easy and quick."
O'Neil and his top executives are encouraged about the direction of the league despite the loss of Brooks Koepka, and the possibility other LIV stars could follow the Jupiter resident back to the PGA Tour at the end of the season.
Koepka, one of LIV's few marquee names, is returning to the PGA Tour, forgoing the final year of his five-year deal worth a reported $125 million.
Still, that news did not dampen the mood of O'Neil and his staff with the 2026 season weeks away.
"We are confident, we are excited about what's coming, and we are pushing the edge and the envelope as far and as fast as we can," O'Neil said.
"LIV is clearly at the top of the pyramid of golf outside of the U.S. We are the world's golf league."
LIV has set the lofty goal for each of the 13 franchises to reach $1 billion in value, said Katie O'Reilly, LIV's head of team business and operations.
"Are we there yet? No," she said. "But right now we are building the foundation for that. So we are focused and we get to do this with these anchors of global superstars in each one of our 13 franchises who also happen to be our business partners."
LIV has lost $1.4 billion since starting in 2022, according to reports.
LIV's purses will increase to more than $22 million for the individual competition and about $8 million for the team competition in 2026 - up from $20 and $5 million, respectively.
The team competition will be a major emphasis, especially on the television broadcasts.
“I feel like everywhere we turn, there are more and more people that want to see some structure and framework emerge in global golf," O'Neil said. "And I think we’re on the precipice of that.”
Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Brooks Koepka's exit does not dampen mood of LIV Golf executives
Category: General Sports
