The PGA Tour has provided some exciting finishes over the past several weeks to begin the year, but viewership — or lack thereof — has been an issue.
No matter what the PGA Tour tries, their ratings seemingly drop weekly, and in some cases drastically for signature events. Golf fans aren't the only ones taking notice; the players are too.
Bryson DeChambeau Speaks on State of Golf
Former U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau spoke Wednesday on the current state of golf. The 30-year-old knows the game is struggling to retain fans, let alone grow its viewership. DeChambeau cited the lack of a deal to merge the PGA Tour and LIV as the primary reason.
DeChambeau was just one of several players to speak on the matter, with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson following suit. The common theme was the absence of a deal to unify professional golf, along with doubt in the game's leadership circles.
On Tap At The Tee Box
Though I agree with the players and their thoughts on the subject, I find part of this topic rather ironic. The players concerned about the lack of interest in golf are the same ones who caused the division of the game by leaving for the then-upstart LIV Tour. Pot, meet kettle.
But in all seriousness, golf finds itself in an extremely vulnerable state. Both tours have secured funding to help them operate independently, but the problem lies in the returns. Right now, they're not favorable as the numbers are dropping weekly. At what point will the investing parties start to look at the bottom line? A deal between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf must come to fruition, as many feel it's already behind schedule. Still, golf fans continue to sit and continue to wait.
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