The celebrated 2025 PLAYERS Championship certainly lived up to its billing, delivering an exhilarating four-day contest that kept golf enthusiasts worldwide on the edge of their seats. The tournament witnessed roller-coaster shifts within the top ten, with the punishing course proving to be a formidable adversary to the players’ consistency. However, amid the shifting sands of the leaderboard, two names remained constant – Rory McIlroy and JJ Spaun.
Both golfers demonstrated exceptional consistency throughout the event, never slipping from the top ten. The climax of the tournament saw the pair tie for the first spot, setting the stage for a nail-biting playoff showdown. Emerging victorious from the three-hole playoff, the Northern Irish golfer McIlroy clinched his second title at TPC Sawgrass, securing his place among the exclusive club of eight golfers who have won the PLAYERS Championship more than once.
The victory not only heralded personal success for McIlroy but also marked the first time he won two events before the majors – a promising omen for the golf star. The playoff and McIlroy’s ultimate triumph drew a substantial audience, with an estimated 1.5 million viewers tuning into the Golf Channel, despite the event coinciding with a busy Monday morning. This viewership number is a considerable achievement for the PGA Tour, which has been grappling with declining viewer numbers.
The 2024 season saw the PGA Tour’s viewership shrink by 3%, while its competitors saw a surge of 50%. Even the Sentry tournament witnessed a drop in its viewership. The impressive win of Hideki Matsuyama, which should have been a viewer magnet, only managed to attract 461 K viewers, a far cry from the 707K viewers the 2024 version of the tournament amassed.
This modest success for the Tour, however, did not come without its share of controversy, stirred up by the outspoken Brandel Chamblee. The self-proclaimed critic of LIV Golf drew comparisons with the LIV Golf Chicago 2024. The event, which was won by Spanish golfer Jon Rahm, managed to draw a mere 55,000 viewers. Despite the win catapulting Rahm to the top of the LIV Standings, the poor viewership numbers raised eyebrows.
Chamblee’s sharp critique of LIV Golf has been a constant feature in his public comments. The former PGA Tour pro has minced no words in expressing his disdain for the Saudi-funded league. He once equated LIV’s relevance to Bryson DeChambeau’s 2024 US Open win, which he said was down to luck rather than hard work. Chamblee has also publicly labelled the LIV as the “worst”, alleging that its money comes from dubious sources and that its product is of poor quality.
The financial situation of LIV Golf has been a cause for concern. The UK arm of LIV Golf reported an alarming 62 percent increase in total losses year-over-year, amounting to US$395.9 million in 2023. The league has also been struggling to attract viewership on par with the PGA Tour.
Chamblee’s criticism has also extended to individual players associated with LIV Golf. He recently targeted two LIV golfers, Joaquin Niemann and Talor Gooch, downplaying their skills and achievements. Despite Niemann currently leading the individual points list, Chamblee has questioned his caliber. Similarly, Gooch, the individual points leader for the 2023 LIV Golf season, has also been on the receiving end of Chamblee’s criticism.
While Chamblee’s criticisms of LIV Golf and its players have sparked heated debates, it remains to be seen whether they are justified or just another example of his controversial takes on the Saudi-backed Tour. Nevertheless, the PGA Tour can take solace in the viewership success of the 2025 PLAYERS Championship, which has given the Tour a much-needed shot in the arm.
