LIV Golf Crushed by PGA Tour as Ratings Disaster Humbles Greg Norman & Co.
Talk about a swing and a miss! Golf’s latest numbers of the weekend are in, and they’re raising eyebrows across the sport. It seems that even the biggest names in golf can’t guarantee a crowd. Or can they? The truth is surprising, and it’s leaving some of golf’s biggest stars wondering what’s going wrong. Jay Monahan and the PGA Tour may have reason to smile now as Greg Norman’s league’s numbers are not good.
It looks like LIV Golf’s latest numbers are getting outpaced by an unexpected rival, and you won’t believe what’s drawing more fans—pickleball! Yes! In the latest revelation on their X handle, Sports TV Ratings shared LIV Golf Greenbrier’s viewership numbers. As per ratings, LIV Golf’s latest event at the Greenbrier failed to impress, drawing a minimal 136,000 viewers on Saturday and 165,000 on Sunday on the CW.
But here’s the kicker: those numbers were crushed by the Pro Pickleball Association’s Bristol Open. The sport drew a whopping 295,000 viewers on Fox on Sunday. Yes, you read that right—pickleball outdrew LIV Golf, leaving big-name stars like Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm wondering what went wrong. The two golfers engaged in a thrilling play-off on the final day which Koepka ultimately won but it was not enough to impress the audience.
Both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf are currently experiencing significant challenges. The PGA Tour’s FedEx St. Jude Championship has also been affected. Despite Hideki Matsuyama’s thrilling victory in the initial playoff, television ratings have plummeted dramatically. The event witnessed a staggering loss of 1 million viewers compared to the previous year.
Furthermore, the final round broadcast on NBC attracted a mere 2.2 million viewers, a notable decrease from the 3.2 million who tuned in to watch Lucas Glover’s triumph in 2023 on CBS. This decline has been a persistent issue since the emergence of the golf divide, as shifting player loyalties have altered the viewer demographic.
In the current context, golf enthusiasts have taken to social media to voice their opinions regarding the disappointing ratings.
Greg Norman led LIV Golf rating woes spark online backlash.
An X user summed up the general sentiment, he commented, “No one cares about LIV golf. But ratings don’t matter to LIV, they got that sweet Saudi blood money to carry them.” His sentiment echoes the concerns about LIV Golf’s funding and its impact on the sport. With reportedly massive player contracts and a $2 billion investment from Saudi’s Public Investment Fund, LIV Golf seems to operate on a different metric than traditional viewership numbers.
The stark contrast in viewership numbers has many questioning the narrative that the split in golf will benefit the game. “Memphis Fed Ex viewers down a million this year compared to last. LIV golf having its 2 biggest stars in a playoff gets 165k viewers. But please keep telling me how the split in golf is going to benefit the game” a golf enthusiast asked on social media. His sentiment shows that it’s clear that the division is hurting viewership and fragmenting the fanbase.
An enthusiastic observer contributed to the discussion, critiquing LIV Golf’s efforts to engage fans through its unconventional elements. He remarked, “Are the shorts, jugglers, and loud music insufficient?” pointing out the Saudi league’s struggle to attract a substantial audience. LIV Golf is characterized by its lavish musical atmosphere and festive ambiance, featuring music on the course, 54-hole tournaments, and team formats, which starkly contrast with the traditional PGA Tour structure, yet it continues to fall short in viewership numbers.
A golf enthusiast expressed his candid thoughts, stating, “I attempted to watch it, but it simply does not translate well to television. I can imagine it is exhilarating in person with the lively music and vibrant atmosphere, but the excessive background noise and cluttered graphics are quite bothersome. It is not a suitable product for television.” He emphasized the disparity between the live experience of LIV Golf events and their televised presentations. This comment highlights how the very features intended to enhance the live atmosphere, such as loud music and animated graphics, may hinder the league’s ability to connect with a wider audience. An example of this disconnect can be seen in Jon Rahm’s confrontation with a heckler while preparing to take a shot at the LIV Golf UK event.
Another commenter humorously remarked, “Absolutely, pickleball!” suggesting, with sarcasm, that the rapidly emerging sport has gained more appeal than golf, insinuating that golf has diminished in popularity amid the ongoing division within the sport. The 295,000 viewership figure further illustrates the current challenges facing golf as a competitive sport.
