[PHOTO: Getty Images]
New LIV Golf chief executive Scott O’Neil has held talks about elevating the Australian Open, once dubbed the fifth major by Jack Nicklaus.
In an exclusive interview with Australian Golf Digest, O’Neil says he intends to expand upon the initiatives of his predecessor Greg Norman. O’Neil said establishing LIV events in mainland China and Japan was a priority, while he will explore potential ties with the LPGA Tour over coming months.
As to his first impressions of LIV Golf Adelaide, in a word O’Neil said: “Wow.”
“I had seen videos. I’ve seen photos. I’ve heard the stories from our players. I’ve heard the stories from our team. But nothing quite prepares you for staring down that first tee, fans eight deep. Or walking around the putting green and seeing fans four deep, 90 minutes before tee-off of a shotgun start. I mean, it is spectacular.”
In an interesting turn of events, O’Neil acknowledged he’s enjoyed productive discussions with Golf Australia and one of the topics has been about LIV golfers competing in the Australian Open.
“Some of it is how we get more players to the Australian Open. Some of it is what’s the time of the year that makes the most sense to get the best fields here. Some of it is how we grow the next generation of fans,” O’Neil says.
“There’s a whole host of things we’re talking through to make sure that this incredible market continues to flourish… We love Australia. We certainly are grateful for the incredible fans in Adelaide.”
However O’Neil was coy about comments made by Joaquin Niemann at the conclusion of LIV Golf Adelaide’s first round when the Chilean appeared to suggest a decision had already been made about the next host of the Australian Open.
“Yeah, obviously I love the Australian Open,” Niemann said. “They are going to Royal Melbourne, which is a great course. I’m not sure yet if I’m going to be there or not, but I would love to go.”
O’Neil brushed aside Niemann’s remark:
“Jaco, what are you doing! I’ve got to talk to him about that.”
O’Neil also plans to speak with the LPGA Tour about how LIV Golf can help the women’s professional game.
“I’ve had the privilege of having a couple of conversations with Liz Moore, who’s the interim LPGA commissioner. She’sgoing to join me in Miami, and we’re going to talk a little bit about about how we might contribute to the women’s game… With LIV’s introduction, we’d like to take all the good that we’ve learned and put that into practice if the women’s game is one that we enter.”
O’Neil is bullish on the sport’s growth, citing 3.5 million new golfers to the game over the past year. And he is keen to establish LIV events in northeast Asia.
“So we’ll be in Korea this year for the first time. I’m hoping that we’re in Japan. In short order, that’s a market I’d love to spend some time in. I’d love to have an event in mainland China. Should be no surprise there. We’re in Hong Kong and have a wonderful experience there, but we’d like to add one to China.”
