Jon Rahm believes replacing Greg Norman as LIV Golf CEO with “outsider” Scott O’Neil could lead to less “bad blood” with golf’s governing bodies.

LIV Golf withdrew its application for Official World Ranking Points under Norman’s stewardship and with LIV golfers struggling to qualify for majors, Rahm hopes O’Neil’s appointment will be a positive.

“Even though Greg has treated me great, I think having somebody like Scott who is a little bit outside the world of golf but very much in the world of sport, I think makes him kind of a perfect match for that,” Rahm said after carding a second round 77 to miss the cut in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

“I think, unfortunately, there's been a little bit, possibly a little too much bad blood between Greg and maybe the governing bodies, and to have somebody outside of that might help the situation. 

“Plus his overall view with what a league or an organization could work and should work with his experience in the NBA, right. 

“With that, and based on what I talked to him about and the vision he has and his enthusiasm, I think he's going to be a very positive impact for LIV, and FOX, obviously, as well.”

LIV yesterday announced its first big TV deal with FOX Sports, and Rahm believes the Saudi-backed league will go from strength to strength under O’Neil.

“Even though it's mainly a US thing to have the largest market, golf market in the world be able to watch LIV Golf on a channel that for the better part should be pretty much every TV in the country, it's very good,” Rahm said.

“Looking forward to hopefully improving some years. A lot of improvement this year.”

As for replacing Norman with O’Neil, who has worked with the NBA’s New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers, the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, the NHL’s New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils, Rahm feels that appointing a figure from outside golf can help LIV create better relations with the game’s status quo.

“I think having an outsider, I say outsider because he has not been involved, could be a very good thing when it comes to him sitting down at the table with the other governing bodies,” Rahm said. 

“I think an outside perspective, and maybe a less, possibly a less threatening image, might help that, as well.”

As for a round that saw the Spaniard go to the turn in five over 42 after making a bogey and two double bogeys on the back nine - including a seven after two visits to water at the 18th - to add a 77 to his opening 69, he was accepting.

“Yesterday was good; I was quite happy with it,” he said. “Today, not really. 

“I wouldn't say that there was anything that went well. No part of the game today was even average to what I would like to feel. 

“Missed too many fairways. I had two penalty strokes on the same hole 

“It's a difficult day, and I just couldn't take advantage of some of the opportunities I had. 

“Even at the end of the day, tee-to-green wasn't very good; there were quite a few short putts missed today and yesterday…

“Not the way you want to start the year, but if there's any positive side of it is it is the beginning of the year. 

“There's a lot of golf and a lot of months to look forward to. I have a pretty clear idea of what I need to work on. So these next two weeks, go home and try to get better.”