The 2025 season of LIV Golf, a league backed by Saudi Arabia, was launched with much fanfare in Riyadh, promising a new era in broadcast strategy. The league had already made headlines by appointing Scott O’Neil as its CEO, replacing Greg Norman, and entering into a broadcast agreement with FOX Sports. The first-ever broadcast of the league was showcased on FOX Sports 2, an event eagerly anticipated by fans due to the shift to a more viewer-friendly time slot, commencing at 6:15 p.m. local time.
The hope was to draw a larger U.S. audience with this evening start. However, these high hopes were met with a low turnout, as a mere 12,000 viewers tuned in for the opening round. Despite being available through the LIV app and website, the response on FOX Sports 2 indicated that, as of now, the interest in this breakaway league may still be somewhat limited.
Dan Rapaport, in his program “Dan on Golf,” suggested a solution to this situation. According to him, ESPN’s competitive environment for airtime and diverse audience base may not be the best fit for LIV Golf. Additionally, the Golf Channel, an affiliate of the PGA Tour since 2007, already has agreements with NBC and CBS, and naturally prioritizes the long-established American Tour over LIV Golf. However, Rapaport proposed that if LIV Golf were to host a match at Trump Doral, ESPN might be more inclined to broadcast it, given their association with Donald Trump.
Furthermore, Rapaport suggested that if top stars like Bryson DeChambeau or Brooks Koepka were to consistently win, it could spark more interest in LIV Golf. He pointed out that the time difference also poses a challenge, as events taking place overseas in the middle of the night are less appealing to the American audience.
Regardless of whether LIV Golf implements Rapaport’s suggestions, it is worth noting that there has been a significant improvement in the broadcasting rates as the season progressed. In fact, the league saw a tenfold increase in viewership.
In a significant milestone, LIV Golf reported a surge in television viewership, attracting greater attention than ever before. This was particularly evident during the opening round in Adelaide, where their collaboration with FOX Sports resulted in impressive viewer numbers. LIV Golf achieved an average of 114,000 viewers on FS1 between 11:20 PM to 2:15 AM, according to Nuclr Golf on X.
This represents a substantial increase from the season opener in Riyadh, which averaged only 19,000 viewers. The victory of Adrian Meronk in Riyadh failed to generate the anticipated excitement, but the Adelaide round, marked by Patrick Reed’s ace at the Watering Hole, seemed to captivate viewers, driving up the numbers.
Whether this spike in viewership is a temporary phenomenon or signifies the onset of sustained interest is yet to be determined. The future of LIV Golf rests on its ability to maintain this momentum and continue expanding its fan base. The potential impact of the change in leadership on the league’s fortunes is also something to watch out for. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving story!