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Associated Press
06-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
LIV Virginia Par Scores
Friday At Robert Trent Jones Golf Club Gainesville, Va. Purse: $20M (Individual); $5M (Team) Yardage: 7,418; Par: 71 First Round Team Scores
Washington Post
06-06-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
LIV Golf CEO on his tour's successes, obstacles and ‘purity of mission'
Scott O'Neil started as LIV Golf's new CEO in January, taking over from Greg Norman, who helped launch the breakaway tour and guided it through its first three seasons. The Saudi-funded circuit has made headway in some areas but has faced headwinds in plenty of others. O'Neil spoke with The Washington Post Friday, as LIV's Virginia event prepared to tee off at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, to discuss the state of the league, its successes and its challenges. Some answers have been edited for brevity. Question: When you started this job six months ago, you talked about the headwinds turning into tailwinds. Now that you're halfway through the season, what's surprised you the most? Are the obstacles bigger than you expected? O'Neil: The biggest surprises are, No. 1, we're the good guys. I think I've been really impressed with our players, with our executive team, with the way we approach the world. You know, it's such purity of mission. Second surprise is how cross-cultural golf is. Music, actors and athletes — you cannot turn around without finding somebody else was falling in love with the game of golf. And the numbers would play that stuff out. In terms of the headwinds and the tailwinds, I mean, you know, sports leagues are pretty simple, right? It's competition. Television, marketing, branding, communications, sponsorship, how do you pay for it? Competition side, good strength of field. You know, good young, emerging talent, which has been a wonderful surprise. It looks like young talent emerging will be a good storyline for us going forward. Everybody talks about the guys on top — the [Bryson DeChambeaus] and Jon Rahms — and we should celebrate them and talk about them. But that next tier is pretty wonderful. Question: And the business side? O'Neil: Better than what I thought. Sponsorship's off the charts. We have a good base there with Aramco and Riyadh Air. Our first wave of deals we did with Bahri and Ma'aden, and then we had the [golf-related companies] come quicker than what I've expected — Callaway and Ping, of course. We've announced two more that are coming, Salesforce and MGM. You see the boards out there. Just an unbelievable impact in a year — year-over-year growth is going to be like 10 times. It's a pretty dramatic increase. But yeah, things are in a good place. I feel more bullish today than I did when I walked in the door in January. Question: How urgent is all of this? Any concerns about funding slowing down? O'Neil: I came in really eyes wide open as to what a three-year-old business should look like. And it is — it's a three-year-old business, and that can be a really tough space. So from a pressure standpoint, I've never in my career felt any more pressure externally than I put on myself and the team. And so are expectations high? Yes. I've worked in and around private equity for 12 years now. It's my third project in, and there's a certain expectation when you come in, and it's very consistent [with] my last two opportunities. So this isn't any different than that. But if you're asking me, do I have a sense of urgency? I have a very high motor, and I have a lot of urgency. Question: Do you receive updates on the negotiations with the Saudi Public Investment Fund, the LIV financier, and the PGA Tour? Does that impact your short- or long-term planning? O'Neil: No updates. I would say, there's no impact or influence. I mean, the PGA Tour seems to be going through a transition of their own, up top, and that will once again provide a new face and less scar tissue and more opportunity at the table. I think that's wonderful. We're wholly focused on our business. It's so different. Question: LIV golfers are still not being recognized by the Official World Golf Rankings, but talks have at least resumed. What's the latest with those discussions? O'Neil: So I've been spending regular time with Trevor Immelman, who's the new chairman [of the OWGR]. I found him very engaging, very smart, very hardworking, very balanced, fair, reasonable. And we've had several discussions, some spirited, some more plain Jane. But I will tell you, when I talk about the ecosystem and all of us wanting what's best for the game of golf, I think I would put Trevor and the board members in that category, and some of them are direct competitors to us, which does add a bit of a complexity. But I think that we're all optimistic that we'll find a way to work within the system to make sure that we have the best, most accurate ranking system we could have. Question: The OWGR has taken issues with some of the things that make LIV unique: smaller fields, 54-hole tournaments, no cutline. Are you considering any changes to the format? O'Neil: We've had so many discussions. I'd rather keep those between me and Trevor. But generally, we love the format. We think, in particular, the shotgun start, I just — I've been reading about pace of play for 15 years in the media; we could do a round in four hours and 35 minutes. So I like the shotgun start quite a bit. But are we stuck in cement on any of our changes? We're a three-year-old league. We're evolving and changing every day. I think we love the format. The players love the format. We're pretty comfortable there. Question: And the team component? That is still core to what LIV wants to be? O'Neil: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Question: LIV has never shared specifics but there's a wide belief that the first wave of contracts might be expiring soon. Player recruitment has certainly slowed, but I wonder if you have any concerns about either retaining players or enticing new ones to join? O'Neil: We don't have any concerns about our players. You know, I would say that we're in a wonderful spot with players, and we don't have any fear that this will continue to be a place that players want to come. Question: What do we make of the Fox deal midway through the season? You'll be head-to-head against the PGA Tour this week, but most of your events have been played abroad and the time difference didn't put you in prime TV spots. Five of your last seven events will be in the U.S. — will that give us a better picture of what the audience appetite is? O'Neil: As you know, Fox is an extraordinary partner. As is ITV in the UK, as is KC Global out in Southeast Asia. So we spent a lot of time with them figuring out how we can invest [to] get the best ratings. With Fox in particular, we're in the U.S. and it's a much better measuring stick as to how we're doing. It's just, there's a complete picture, and that's one important slice of the pie that we're addressing and working on. But yeah, hopefully in the U.S., you'll see it. We're happy to be measured and judged, like everybody else, you know? But … we look at the global view, like the global audience, how many people are watching us around the world? I mean, we're in 872 million homes. If you'd have told me that on my first day here, I would've thought you'd lost your mind — more than double from last year. We're in 120 countries. We're actually testing some technology that takes our broadcasters in their own voice and puts it in other languages. So we're testing that the next two weeks. It'll be really fun. Arlo White in Spanish, you know? Or Korean. Or Chinese. I guess the way we look at television is, we get somewhere between 2½ [million] to 3½ million people watching our events around the world. It's pretty good. Question: You'd mentioned the strength of field being a positive. Obviously some guys are finishing consistently up high, but in the standings, we see some big drops, particularly after the top three and again after the top 10. That doesn't concern you? O'Neil: The numbers would say — we spend quite a bit of time using AI and other tools at our disposal to take a look at our strength and feel good. As you can imagine, strokes-gained analysis and other tools we have at our disposal. We're pretty comfortable with where the strength of field is.
Washington Post
04-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Washington Post
Bryson DeChambeau is back to competing, preparing for US Open title defense after 'fun side quests'
GAINESVILLE, Va. — As much as Bryson DeChambeau loves to practice and compete, the U.S. Open champion also appreciates the limited LIV Golf schedule that gives him time to pursue other interests. DeChambeau arrived at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club for LIV Golf Virginia after a characteristically busy few days that included a round of golf with President Donald Trump and some short-game practice on the South Lawn of the White House.
Associated Press
04-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Bryson DeChambeau is back to competing, preparing for US Open title defense after 'fun side quests'
GAINESVILLE, Va. (AP) — As much as Bryson DeChambeau loves to practice and compete, the U.S. Open champion also appreciates the limited LIV Golf schedule that gives him time to pursue other interests. DeChambeau arrived at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club for LIV Golf Virginia after a characteristically busy few days that included a round of golf with President Donald Trump and some short-game practice on the South Lawn of the White House. Now the big-hitting YouTube star turns his attention to the 54-hole LIV event that starts Friday at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. He said the thick rough and fast greens at RTJ would help prepare him for Oakmont, where he will try next week to win his third U.S. Open after triumphs last year at Pinehurst No. 2 and in 2020 at Winged Foot. 'I think LIV afforded me the opportunity to spend more time thinking, strategizing, getting my body healthy, ready for majors in a pretty unique way,' DeChambeau said Wednesday. 'For me, it was a great thing. I thought there was an opportunity to do other things in life, and look, do I want to win every single tournament I show up to? 100%.' The RTJ event is the eighth of 14 tournaments this year for the globetrotting, Saudi-funded LIV Golf League. Although PGA Tour players have more freedom to set their own schedules, they typically play more often. For top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, the U.S. Open will be the fourth of five events in a seven-week stretch. DeChambeau hasn't competed since last month's PGA Championship, won by Scheffler. While DeChambeau was enjoying a friendly round with Trump and posting a YouTube short in which he hit golf balls from the top of a mountain and the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, Scheffler was finishing off his third win of the past month at the Memorial. 'I've been doing some fun side quests, yes, there's no doubt,' DeChambeau said. When he does compete, nobody practices harder than DeChambeau. He hit 1,029 range balls — more than anyone else in the field — at the Masters, where he finished in a tie for fifth. The 31-year-old DeChambeau said he developed his practice habits as a teenager, when other junior golfers in California were beating him even though they didn't appear to try as hard. 'It stemmed from me not being as good as others and then realizing I can only be as good as how hard I work,' DeChambeau said. 'So I just became obsessed with hitting crazy amounts of golf balls.' Known for trying to optimize his swing and his equipment to produce a consistent ball flight — a long, high draw — DeChambeau also spends time practicing the unusual shots he needs to finish off tournaments. 'As much as I am a robot, and try to swing it as straight as possible and just stable as possible, I still do have to hit cuts and draws and hit weird shots every once in a while,' he said. 'Giving myself those opportunities in the bunker, in the bush, whatever, has only aided in my golf career.' Mickelson nears the end After he shocked the golf world four years ago by winning the PGA Championship at age 50, Phil Mickelson had a moment of honest self-assessment. 'It's very possible that this is the last tournament I ever win. Like if I'm being realistic,' Mickelson said on that triumphant Sunday at Kiawah Island. Mickelson hasn't won since, and while he wasn't eager to reflect Wednesday on a career that includes six major titles and just as many famous near-misses, he indicated his competitive future is limited. He said he wants to help his teammates on LIV's HyFlyers squad and would step away if he's no longer doing that. 'I'm also going to be 55 in a couple weeks, so I want to be realistic there, too. I want this team to succeed. I don't want to hold it back,' Mickelson said. 'If I'm holding it back, then it's time for me to move on and get somebody else in here.' Mickelson also acknowledged the possibility that Oakmont will be his last U.S. Open. He has a record six runner-up finishes at the national championship, the only major he hasn't won. 'There's a high likelihood that it will be,' Mickelson said, 'but I haven't really thought about it too much.' The USGA gave Mickelson a special exemption to the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, which he ultimately didn't need because he won at Kiawah a month earlier. Nonetheless, the U.S. Open historically does not grant more than one special exemption to any player, and Mickelson has missed the past three U.S. Open cuts. He remains exempt for the other three majors as a past champion. ___ AP golf:
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This $4.3 Million Four Seasons Penthouse Could Make You a Citizen in St. Kitts and Nevis
Increasing numbers of Americans are looking for ways to become citizens in other countries, with real estate investments being an appealing option for those who have the ability to acquire an international home. One such property in the dual-island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis offers a streamlined path to exactly that. A $4.3 million penthouse was recently unveiled as part of the Nevis Peak Residences at the Caribbean country's Four Seasons Private Residences. The fully furnished, three-bedroom abode sits atop the property's so-called Building 1, from which it has views of the resort, the Caribbean Sea, and the eighth hole of the Robert Trent Jones II-designed golf course. Best of all, you can apply for citizenship as soon as you enter into a contract on the condo, before construction is even complete. More from Robb Report San Francisco's 181 Fremont Officially Brings Its Grand Penthouse to Market at $35 Million These New Easter Jeep Safari Concepts Are a Colorful Ode to Off-Roading This $110 Million 4-Story Penthouse on Billionaire's Row Is N.Y.C.'s Most Expensive Home for Sale The 2,583-square-foot penthouse has been designed by the U.K.-based firm Ward & Co., which is known for its work across the Caribbean. The open-concept living space includes lots of light-wood detailing, while the cream-colored furnishings allow the vivid hues landscape to take center stage. Every bedroom comes with an en suite bathroom, and the primary also has a private outdoor shower. The island's lush natural environment is featured here, too, with greenery hanging over the copper-tinted see-through soaking tub. RELATED: Inside a $5 Million Villa at the Four Seasons Resort Nevis With the penthouse spanning the entire width of the building, there are ample outdoor areas, to boot. More than 1,300 square feet of alfresco space boasts covered patios and open terraces, all accessible from the sliding glass doors that wrap around the residence. Plus, residents can take advantage of the resort's half mile of beaches, tennis courts, on-site restaurants, full-service spa and fitness center, and more. The Nevis Peak Residences, which include one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes, are the first condos to launch as part of the Four Seasons development. Future plans call for four- and five-bedroom beachfront homes to its fractional and full-ownership options at the resort's Villas at Pinney's Beach. All buyers, not just those who pony up for the penthouse, have access to St. Kitts and Nevis's citizenship by investment program, which is one of the oldest and highest-performing in the world. While many flock to European countries such as Spain, Portugal, and Italy to receive citizenship, the Caribbean is a much closer option for those looking to expand their home base. It doesn't hurt that your investment may come with a Mai Tai on the of Robb Report The 10 Priciest Neighborhoods in America (And How They Got to Be That Way) In Pictures: Most Expensive Properties Click here to read the full article.
