The new CEO of LIV told AFP the world of golf will eventually "open up again" and the Saudi-bankrolled league has an important role in growing the game around the world.

American sports executive Scott O'Neil, who has in the past run NBA and NHL teams, took the reins from Greg Norman in January.

The period since has seen a flurry of meetings between the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and their Saudi backers, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), but still no deal reached to reunite the sport.

"I think LIV has a place and an important place, and it's very different from anybody else in golf," O'Neil told AFP in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of this week's LIV Hong Kong tournament.

Only days ago leading PGA Tour player Rory McIlroy said that a deal to reunify golf did not feel any closer.

O'Neil would not comment on the stop-start talks with the PGA Tour but pointed out that the once icy........

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