Whether any LIV Golf executives were in attendance at the first-ever TGL event

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TGL opening night has now been and gone, with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy having watched The Bay Golf Club emerge victorious.

Woods struck the TGL camera before the action even got underway, with the 15-time major winner having also undertaken commentary duties.

He was joined by McIlroy, with their TGL venture off to a positive start at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach, Florida.

Both McIlroy and Woods have been strong advocates for the PGA Tour amid its ongoing rivalry with LIV Golf.

LIV Golf want an 11% stake in the PGA Tour, with that potential $1billion deal set to see the former get two seats on the board of the latter.

LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil attends TGL opening night

A framework agreement was signed by the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF – which funds LIV – back in June 2023, but a merger has yet to be announced.

The ongoing situation has now taken an intriguing twist, with Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal noting that LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil attended TGL opening night.

READ MORE: Rickie Fowler makes big TGL prediction after taking part in opening night

He wrote on X: “Spotted heading to the suite level at SoFi Center for the TGL debut: LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil and Fox Sports’ Jordan Bazant.”

Scott O’Neil watches TGL despite PGA Tour exclusivity

Given that the TGL event is only for PGA Tour players and is led by two of its leading stars in Woods and McIlroy, O’Neil’s attendance is significant.

A total of 24 PGA Tour players will take to the SoFi Center over the coming months at the combined virtual and real-life event.

READ MORE: Rory McIlroy says what blows his mind about TGL which should really excite fans

O’Neil is replacing Greg Norman as LIV CEO, with the latter having been in the leading role since October 2021.

Norman has helped the breakaway tour grow since its inception, with the Australian expected to remain with LIV in a senior role.

He has overseen several defections from the PGA Tour in recent years, with Tom McKibbin seemingly the next to make the switch.

And it is a move that could cause further tension between the rival tours given that the Northern Irish youngster has only just secured his first-ever PGA Tour card for 2025.