The shock departure indicates the levels of tension and expectation as LIV desperately tries to secure its foothold. Not only has no TV deal been announced with the 2023 schedule beginning in February, but LIV CEO Greg Norman had promised there would be further big signings to join the likes of Open champion Cam Smith, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson. They have yet to materialize.
Instead, the most predominant LIV headlines have involved Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy urging for Norman to be relieved of his role in order for peace talks to ensue with the traditional tours. Khosla was regarded as a respected figure and as the commercial brain at LIV and his sudden farewell can only be viewed as a setback to the Norman enterprise.
Khosla is the second prominent executive to leave the company, with Sean Bratches, who arrived from Formula 1 as chief commercial officer, walking out even before the first $25 million LIV event was staged in Hertfordshire in June. Last month, Telegraph Sport reported that Al-Rumayyan, who is also chairman of Newcastle United, had met with Mark King, the former TaylorMade and Adidas executive, with speculation rising that the industry big-hitter could be brought in at the helm with Norman moving upstairs.
It will be interesting to see if King, who is now the CEO at Taco Bell, can be enticed to LIV and in which role. Sports Illustrated has revealed that, in the meantime, Performance 54, the England-based agency, is handling Khosla’s duties “with the possibility of a broader role to come”.
“We are working closely with some of our most trusted partners, who have been integral since LIV’s inception and are supporting our structural transition and introduction of exciting new developments ahead of our first full season,” the statement added.
.