LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil responds to critics claiming the tour’s ratings are false

LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil knew when he came to this position that he needs make various moves to help LIV Golf be at the top and stay there. In an interview with ESPN, O’Neil reflected on LIV Golf’s success this season, saying that as many as 2.5 million viewers watched their season opener this year in Saudi Arabia. 

Although some point out that these data are not correct, and that the interest in LIV Golf is invisible, LIV CEO has a different point of view. 

O’Neil sent a message to those who deny that LIV Golf has such a viewership, saying that their ratings in the Middle East and Europe are the best indicator of their superiority and the potential for the future.

“It’s not that the facts aren’t accurate,” O’Neil told ESPN.

“It’s just we’re playing a different game. Check our ratings in the Middle East. Check our ratings in Europe when we’re playing there.”

Scott O’Neil: I like being a global sports league

Scott is satisfied with their position in the world of golf, optimistic that things will be much better in the future. O’Neil is also a person who has no problem accepting that he is responsible for some things, like the ratings during the weekend. 

The CEO of this Tour has no problem accepting criticism from the public, but precisely such criticism seems to be an even stronger motivation for him to achieve success.

“I like where we are, like our positioning. I like being a global sports league. I think that’s different.

I’m happy to be held accountable for ratings on Friday, Saturday, Sunday. 

I’m happy to take a beating, quite frankly, if they’re not high enough. Nobody can possibly be any more critical of us than us.”

His words convey sincerity and a desire for change, but the question is whether this Tour will be able to overtake the PGA Tour in the future. It seems that the chances of the PIF and the PGA Tour reaching a final agreement are decreasing.

​Tennis World USA


Thanks for reading! Ready to elevate your game? Explore myAI Tennis Coach for AI-powered coaching and match strategies or check out my book, Stop Losing!, for winning tips. Don’t forget to explore our Live Scores page for the latest results and highlights. Stay tuned for more updates—see you on the court!