The LIV Golf Invitational Series is facing a hurdle with its television ratings, despite having some of the biggest names in golf. Despite securing top players like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, the series, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is struggling to attract viewers in the United States where the PGA Tour continues to dominate.
The PGA Tour continues to dominate the viewership game. LIV Golf went all out by securing Rahm with a deal worth up to over $600 million and Hatton with a move worth over $60 million, but even their star power has not been enough to draw in fans. With an viewership of over 280,000, the thrilling finale of LIV Golf Vegas captivated less number audiences on the CW.
This year’s Waste Management Phoenix Open attracted an impressive over one million viewers. Compared to the third round of the PGA Tour event which was re-broadcasted on the Columbia Broadcasting System, he Mayakoba event of LIV Golf is still behind. With this broadcast the PGA tour also attracted more than two times of viewership.
There is no doubt that fans have a strong belief in the legacy of the PGA Tour. There have been some serious difficulties faced by LIV Golf to attract or engage viewers, which eventually troubling them to secure a broadcast partner.
What’s next for LIV Golf after this?
Without huge fan support, the future of LIV Golf is looking blurry. Last year also LIV Golf had very less TV revenue earning just over £2m compared to the PGA tour Which earned quite high revenue. LIV Golf faces a daunting challenge in trying to win over the PGA Tour’s loyal fanbase.
Additionally, the inconvenient timing of upcoming LIV Golf events for American viewers, going to be held in the Middle East or Asia means late-night or early morning airings in the United States. This scheduling challenge makes it difficult for American fans to follow the tournaments.
Apart from this, several tournaments will be clashing against each other. The Memorial Championship and the Travelers Championship will be played during the same time as LIV Houston and LIV Nashville. On the other hand, LIV Andalucia coincides with the Genesis Scottish Open, while LIV Greenbrier clashes with the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
One tournament that could give the breakaway tour leverage over the PGA Tour is LIV Golf Adelaide. The event in Australia attracted wide audiences for them and was later named the Best Event of the Year. This was a major reason why Greg Norman, the CEO the 54-hole circuit and other management team picked up Adelaide to host another event in 2024.
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