LIV Golf CEO Makes Bold Claim Over Which Tour Has The World’s Best Golfers

Speaking at LIV Golf Adelaide, Scott O’Neil claimed that the 'best players in the world' are on LIV Golf, with the statement raising eyebrows on social media

Scott O'Neil poses in front of a LIV Golf board
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Matt Cradock
By
published

Once again, LIV Golf Adelaide proved to be a huge success, with over 100,000 fans attending the tournament as Joaquin Niemann claimed a commanding three shot victory.

Arguably its flagship event, Adelaide is set to host the tournament until 2031 and, speaking at the tournament in Australia, the League's CEO, Scott O'Neil, made a big claim whilst speaking to the broadcast team.

In conversation with Arlo White, Jerry Foltz and David Feherty, the newly appointed boss explained how the tournament had caught the eyes of a nation, especially as Australia had been overlooked in terms of golf over the last few decades. However, it was one particular statement from O'Neil that raised eyebrows.

“It doesn’t happen overnight,” O’Neil explained. “But you have a public-private partnership, you have corporate support, you have fans that want it, and you don’t have to look too far past our leader board to know that, outside of the majors, if you want to see the best players in the world, there’s only one place to see it. And that’s at LIV.”

The statement drew some criticism, especially from Brandel Chamblee, who has been a critic of LIV Golf since it first started back in 2022.

Writing on X/Twitter, the Golf Channel analyst stated: “Their top 10 players average finish was outside the top 40 in the 34 majors they played last year. Meanwhile Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler won 3 of the 4 majors in 2024 so maybe you only have to look far enough past their leaderboard to see a PGA Tour leaderboard.”

As of writing, two players from the LIV Golf League rank inside the world's top 50 (Tyrrell Hatton and Bryson DeChambeau), with Jon Rahm dropping outside the top 50 for the first since since 2017.

Currently, LIV Golf is without OWGR points, but does possess the current US Open champion in DeChambeau, as well as Hatton claiming the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at the start of January.

Looking at Data Golf, Rahm ranks fourth, Hatton sixth and DeChambeau 10th in the rankings, whilst Niemann is also inside the top 20.

Matt Cradock
Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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