LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil opened up about signing young stars in the league. Ahead of the start of the 2026 season, the league signed Byeong Hun An and also 23-year-old Elvis Smylie, who caught attention last year with a marvelous game at the LIV Golf Riyadh event. He won his debut LIV Golf event.

This week, the Saudi league players tee it up at the Adelaide event, which started on Thursday. Scott O’Neil attended a pre-tournament press conference on February 12 and talked about the league. He opened up about signing young talent.

“We haven’t been too shy about this being a place for young talent,” he said (via ASAP Sports). “If I were — I’m a dad of four girls. If I were a dad of a son who was an extraordinary golfer – both impossible – but if I were, I would say to them, to my son, what an opportunity.

“…….Golf is the loneliest sport in the world. If you’re Tom McKibbin and you’re Caleb Surratt and you wake up and your practice round is with Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm, every week, and they’re talking all the time about the course and the game and how they prepare themselves, I don’t think there’s a better place in the world for young talent to come than here at LIV,” he added.

Elvis Smylie played on the DP World Tour before he joined LIV Golf. Meanwhile, Byeong Hun An competed on the PGA Tour.

LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil opens up this week at the Adelaide event

This week, the LIV Golf players tee it up in the second event of the 2026 season in Adelaide. LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil talked about the event in a press conference on Thursday.

“It’s wonderful to be here, to be back,” O’Neil said. “What a difference a year makes. Well, I would tell you that there are several things that make a world-class event, and it starts with a public-private partnership. We do have a tenacious partner here who advocates very strongly on behalf of his constituents and South Australia, and it’s been incredible.

“I don’t think you can create and build a world-class event without such a strong partnership with the local government. It also takes marketing partners. We have several of them here. And maybe most importantly, dare I say it, is the fans,” he added.

Notably, the 2026 LIV Golf Adelaide event kicked off on Thursday, and after two rounds, Jon Rahm took the lead in the game at 13-under. He is in contention to win the tournament.

Elvis Smylie is playing on his home course, and the Australian golfer is tied for 33rd place after two rounds. The tournament will have its final round on Sunday, February 15.