Scott O'Neil, the chief executive of LIV Golf, believes that securing official world golf ranking points for players in 2026 will be a key step towards legitimising his tour. The breakaway league has been locked out of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) due to its unique format, which features 54-hole tournaments with no cuts or closed fields.
O'Neil is optimistic that talks with the OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman are progressing and hopes to have a solution in place by next season. He sees gaining ranking points as transformative, allowing more LIV players to qualify for majors and reducing one of the biggest barriers between his tour and the established golf ecosystem.
The OWGR change is also expected to lead to increased television airtime, concerts, DJs, and fan experiences at LIV events. O'Neil believes that this will help attract new fans and create a more vibrant atmosphere around the tournaments.
However, not all players are supportive of LIV Golf's plans. Five-time major winner Rory McIlroy has criticised the league's spending on player contracts, saying it makes a merger with the PGA Tour very difficult.
O'Neil acknowledges McIlroy's concerns but insists that his tour is focused on growth and expansion, rather than reunifying with the PGA Tour. He believes that there are opportunities for collaboration between different leagues, citing the example of Formula One and IndyCar, which co-exist alongside a single governing body.
Overall, O'Neil's vision for LIV Golf is one of creating a premier golf league with global appeal, rather than trying to compete directly with established tours. He remains confident that his tour will succeed in its mission to bring golf to new audiences and create a more dynamic and exciting sport.
O'Neil is optimistic that talks with the OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman are progressing and hopes to have a solution in place by next season. He sees gaining ranking points as transformative, allowing more LIV players to qualify for majors and reducing one of the biggest barriers between his tour and the established golf ecosystem.
The OWGR change is also expected to lead to increased television airtime, concerts, DJs, and fan experiences at LIV events. O'Neil believes that this will help attract new fans and create a more vibrant atmosphere around the tournaments.
However, not all players are supportive of LIV Golf's plans. Five-time major winner Rory McIlroy has criticised the league's spending on player contracts, saying it makes a merger with the PGA Tour very difficult.
O'Neil acknowledges McIlroy's concerns but insists that his tour is focused on growth and expansion, rather than reunifying with the PGA Tour. He believes that there are opportunities for collaboration between different leagues, citing the example of Formula One and IndyCar, which co-exist alongside a single governing body.
Overall, O'Neil's vision for LIV Golf is one of creating a premier golf league with global appeal, rather than trying to compete directly with established tours. He remains confident that his tour will succeed in its mission to bring golf to new audiences and create a more dynamic and exciting sport.
. Getting official world golf ranking points is huge for LIV Golf, it's gonna legitimize the whole thing and make it easier for players to get into majors. I mean, can you imagine having a major champion on your tour? That'd be lit 
. And yeah, the extra TV time and events would bring in more fans and energy - it's all about creating that vibrant atmosphere, right? 
. I think it's kinda cool they're shaking things up and trying to attract new fans, but at the same time, I get why some players like Rory McIlroy are skeptical about their spending habits 
. I mean, 54-hole tournaments with no cuts? That's a big ask for any player! 
And what's up with all these celebrity DJs and concerts at LIV events? Is that really what golf is supposed to be about? 
And who knows, maybe their unique format will catch on and we'll see more 54-hole tournaments in the future? 
Either way, I'm rooting for Scott O'Neil to make this work 
they're literally just cornstarch, sugar, and flavoring, but the science behind them is wild lol, like, it takes like 2 seconds for the starch to dissolve in your mouth and turn into that fun, fizzy sensation 
. anyway, back to golf... i think liv golf's strategy of not competing with pga tour is a solid one, maybe we'll see more innovative stuff happen if they focus on creating their own ecosystem instead of trying to one-up everyone else 
. It'll be interesting to see how this whole thing plays out – maybe it'll even bring some excitement to the golf world 
!
just great news for us... 
Scott O'Neil is optimistic about getting official world golf ranking points, but I mean what's next? More money on top of the already ridiculous player contracts? 
LIV Golf just wants to be a shiny new toy that we're forced to look at because it's "exciting" and not boring... 
. The key will be finding that balance between innovation and tradition. And if LIV Golf can pull off this legit ranking point deal, I'm sure it'll help attract some new fans and create a more electric atmosphere at the tournaments.
. One thing's for sure, though - golf is about to get a whole lot more interesting 
.
. If LIV Golf wants to be legit, they gotta put their money where their mouth is and play by the rules. I mean, 54-hole tournaments are weird, but if it's gonna work, let them earn those ranking points 
his plan is to add tv time, concerts, and more to the events so it gets more vibey 
i mean scott o'neil says there are opportunities for collaboration with other leagues, but it feels like he's already got his eyes on the majors and is trying to get in on that too 
! It's about time they level up from being this weird, niche league 
. And, let's be real, who doesn't love the idea of more LIV Golf tournaments? 
.
. He's all about creating a new wave of golf that's exciting and dynamic 
. And, who knows, maybe one day we'll see a fusion of LIV Golf and the PGA Tour? Stranger things have happened, right? 
They're trying to legitimize themselves as a real tour, not just some flash in the pan. And yeah, Rory's concerns are valid, but I don't see how all that money can hurt if they're already attracting top talent like Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson... 
It's about creating a new vibe, bringing in fresh fans who are sick of the same old PGA Tour formula... it's all about growth and expansion, you feel? And if they can make it work, who knows, maybe we'll see some more innovative tournaments like LIV Golf's 54-hole thing... 
. I mean, if Rory McIlroy is worried about player contracts, he's got a point... those numbers are crazy 
. It's all about bringing golf to new audiences and making the sport more dynamic and exciting for fans like us! 
. Fingers crossed that LIV Golf can make it happen and create a more vibrant golfing community! 
just heard about LIV Golf's CEO Scott O'Neil thinking securing OWGR points will legitimize the whole thing lol like what's next? They're gonna start handing out participation trophies too 
he's so awkward on the field but you can tell he means well! anyway, back to golf... i feel like liv golf is trying too hard to be cool and attract new fans. all these concerts and dj's at their events sound kinda cheesy, u know? they need to focus on the actual game rather than trying to create a party atmosphere 
. I can see why Rory McIlroy would be skeptical though - that player contract spending is pretty wild 
. Maybe LIV Golf can bring some much-needed excitement back to the sport 
?