Jon Rahm left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf last year, but the Spaniard was not the impetus for change that many had hoped, with viewing figures across the two organisations continuing to plummet.
Golf pundit Brandel Chamblee has slammed Jon Rahm for ‘self-delusion’ after the Spanish golfer’s first year with LIV Golf. Rahm, a major drawcard, jumped ship from the PGA Tour to LIV last December, pocketing a cool $600million (£480million) in the process, courtesy of Greg Norman’s team.
The move sparked speculation of a possible reconciliation within the sport. Despite ongoing discussions between the PGA Tour and the backers of LIV, the Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), a resolution remains elusive, leaving the golf world divided.
This schism seems to have impacted viewership, with PGA Tour numbers dwindling. While some attribute this to top players leaving for LIV, Chamblee isn’t entirely convinced.
He took to Twitter to express his views on Rahm, saying: “This past year, after Jon Rahm’s defection to LIV in late 2023, the dominos were supposed to fall, forcing the hand of the PGA Tour, a deal between the two tours was presumed to be imminent. Now as a golfer, Rahm has many talents but none seem to exceed his gift for self-delusion.
As it happened, he was not the driving force, and while Trump’s election is expected to be more of a force for change than Rahm’s betrayal. Notables are missing due to the PGA Tour / LIV split: DeChambeau, Koepka, and Rahm Their absence along with others many think is the biggest reason why less and less viewers are tuning in to watch…
This may be partly true, but if those players were really that compelling, the LIV finale, televised on CW and finishing in prime time on the East Coast with Rahm winning, would have drawn more than the whopping audience of 89,000…”
This may be partly true, but if those players were really that compelling, the LIV finale, televised on CW and finishing in prime time on the East Coast with Rahm winning, would have drawn more than the whopping audience of 89,000…
The issue becomes more contentious now that Rory McIlroy has commented on declining tour audiences. He blamed off-course politics for the slide, saying in part earlier in the year: “If you look at the TV ratings with the PGA Tour this year, they are 20 percent lower across the board.”
That’s a fifth. That’s big. In my opinion the numbers on LIV aren’t very good also in terms with the viewers who is watching. I guess what I am saying is with the fighting and everything that has taken place over the last couple of years, folks are just getting burned out and it is creating an atmosphere where people are less and less interested in men’s professional golf – and that is not good for anyone.