James Watson, a key figure of LIV Golf's production team since its inception, has become the latest senior figure to leave the Saudi-backed league.
Watson was hired in 2022 as senior vice president of worldwide production for the team-based breakaway golfing tour.
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In that role, he oversaw LIV’s production efforts, which included the introduction of drone tracing technology to golf broadcasts, a technology that’s now prominent on coverage across the sport on major US networks such as CBS and NBC.
Watson announced his departure from LIV on LinkedIn yesterday, stating: “After four unforgettable years, I’ve made the decision to move on from my role at LIV Golf.
“What began as an ambitious idea in December 2021 became an opportunity to help build something genuinely new. Together, an extraordinary group of people created a broadcast operation that challenged convention — rethinking storytelling, production workflows, and how fans experience the game.
“From real-time shot access and immersive audio to live drone AR and data-driven graphics, the focus was always on intention over noise: building tools and experiences that served fans, players, and the speed of modern sport.
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By GlobalData“While I’m excited to take a breath and reset, I’m even more excited about what’s next.”
Watson is leaving as EverWonder Studio is coming in to work on LIV broadcasts.
Meanwhile, Keith Hirshland, LIV’s lead producer since 2022, also recently announced his departure from the league.
Hirshland worked for decades in golf broadcasts, including years at Golf Channel, before joining LIV ahead of its launch.
The golf series has been a revolving door over the past 12 months, with significant changes to its senior leadership team.
At the beginning of 2025, LIV’s founding chief executive, Greg Norman, departed, to be replaced by Scott O'Neill. Norman was followed shortly by chief media officer Will Staeger.
In recent months, Adam Harter stepped down as LIV’s chief marketing officer, while Monica Fee left her role as senior vice president and head of global partnerships to join the LPGA.
The series has, however, made several appointments recently to reshape its commercial team ahead of the league’s fifth season.
Heather Meyer was hired as the league’s new senior vice president of marketing to replace Harter, with Chad Biggs brought in as executive vice president and global head of partnerships, Michael Drobnick as senior vice president of ticket sales and service, and Victoria Hawksley as senior vice president of retail and merchandising.
In November, LIV appointed experienced sports partnerships executive Chris Beadle to serve as its new vice president for global commercial in the Asia-Pacific region.
The new executives report to Chris Heck, who was named as LIV’s president of business operations last June.
In terms of recent activity, LIV secured a trio of new broadcast deals in key European markets last week, including TNT Sports in the UK and Ireland, Sky Deutschland in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH), and streaming platform Viaplay in the Nordics.
After a controversial entry into the golf picture four years ago, LIV Golf has finally built out a portfolio of major broadcasters for its events. Last year, it struck its most significant rights deal, a multi-year agreement in the US with Fox Sports.
The series also has deals with Coupang Play in South Korea and Movistar Plus+ in Spain.
