With Positive Viewership and Revenue, the PGA Tour May not Need Saudi Arabia.

“We have seen double digit increases in our average and peak viewership on network television,” PGA Tour Jay Monahan said in an impromptu discussion with reporters at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Tuesday. “I look at the fact that the same can be said for our international ratings and reach, our digital visits the same.”

Over the last 45 days since the beginning of the PGA Tour network television season that started at the Farmers Insurance Open, the Average Linear Audience has seen an increase of 17% Year over Year (2,323,000 to 2,720,000).

The peak linear audience for final round PGA Tour telecasts on CBS increased 11 percent from last year, and the Streaming Audience continues to grow. PGA Tour Live was the most streamed live content on ESPN+ in 2022, 2023, and 2024 and is on track for the same growth in 2025.

While the viewership numbers seem positive, the revenue figures are even more impressive.

“Just contextually, over the last three months we have seen $400 million in revenue committed through 14 deals,” Monahan said of the recent executed business. “Which is two and a half times what we achieved at this point last year, or year over year.”

The recent business included 5-year extensions with current sponsors Valspar and 3M, and in the next month, the Tour promises a string of additional renewals and new relationships.

The $400 Million is part of nearly $4 Billion in sponsorship commitments secured through 2035.

“It takes all of my energy and my team's energy to make sure that we're continuing to improve and strengthen the PGA Tour and doing so in the eyes of fans,” Monahan said. “Ultimately that question is going to be answered through the conversations that we're having with the PIF.”

Coming back to the original question, does the PGA Tour need to do a deal with PIF?

With viewership up and revenue stable and growing, why does the PGA Tour want to do a deal?

According to the PGA Tour and its Fan Forward survey, fans want the game of golf reunited.

Is reunification really necessary for the Tour to prosper?

Monahan is still committed to the process and believes his players will come along once, and if a deal is made.

“We're focused on the conversation with the Public Investment Fund, and we think that we can accomplish reunification through those conversations,” Monahan said. “And I'm not going to get into any hypotheticals, but we've got a commitment to the process that we're undertaking with Yasir and the team at PIF, and that's where we're going to keep our energy.”

But is it time to fish or cut bait?

Time will tell, but if the PGA Tour continues to move in a positive direction, not making a deal could become increasingly likely.