The viewership figures for LIV Golf's event in Chicago over the weekend have been analyzed and they paint a bleak picture of the tour's current state. Jon Rahm emerged victorious in Chicago, clinching the individual championship. However, it seems that many golf fans didn't deem the event worth their time, as the LIV Golf season reached its climax with a dwindling audience.
According to SportsTVRatings, The LIV viewership for this weekend was at 89,000 on America's CW Network for the final round on Sunday when Rahm claimed his victory. The action for Saturday's second round attracted 134,000 viewers. The LIV Golf app has yet to release its figures, while Sunday's coverage on YouTube drew in 145,000 viewers.
Former PGA golfer, commentator, and writer Brandel Chamblee responded to a post on X sharing the viewing figures. "Despite billions of dollars for golf megastars, LIV remains in the witness protection program of sports viewership," Chamblee said. "Partly because they are trying to 'scale' the county-fair motleyness of the 16th hole at the WM Phoenix Open and the Seve-like passion of the Ryder Cup, they fail, not least for the lack of innovation of their ideas but also for the origin of their investment."
The PGA Tour's Struggles
While LIV Golf is facing criticism for its low viewership, the PGA Tour is not immune to falling ratings. Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal revealed that a mere 69,000 viewers tuned into Golf Channel to watch Patton Kizzire's victory in the Procore Championship. This was a significant drop from the 298,000 who watched Sahith Theegala's triumph last year, although he did note that the coverage clashed with the Emmy Awards and other TV events.
Solheim Cup Viewership Also Declines
The Solheim Cup, won by Team USA, also had its viewership scrutinised, with 657,000 tuning into NBC on Sunday. This compares to last year's edition in Spain which attracted 277,000 viewers. However, this figure is still lower than the last U.S.-based Solheim Cup broadcast on NBC in 2017, which drew in 946,000 viewers, according to Carpenter.
Chamblee Defends the PGA Tour
One fan questioned Chamblee about the overall decline in viewership across the sport, to which the four-time PGA Tour winner responded: "It depends on the event, and to be sure viewership is down, but overall the image of the PGA Tour is still about charity and merit. Which is why it still remains such a strong commercial property. "
Chamblee continued his criticism of LIV, stating: "Innovation is no doubt coming, but the PGA Tour with its partners still gives hundreds of millions to charity and has the most sought after demographic in all of sport. None of which can be said about LIV."
Merger Talks Continue
Talks are still ongoing between the PGA and the Saudi Arabian-backed LIV Golf League. A binding agreement is reportedly "inching closer" but a stumbling block on the deal has seen PGA players demand those who defected to the breakaway organization return to their contracts.
The Future of Golf is Uncertain
The low viewership figures for both LIV Golf and the PGA Tour raise concerns about the future of professional golf. The PGA Tour's reliance on traditional media platforms is facing a challenge from streaming services and the rise of online content. LIV Golf, meanwhile, is struggling to attract viewers, despite its lavish spending. It remains to be seen how the two tours will navigate the challenges ahead, but the landscape of professional golf is changing rapidly.
