The entire sport is becoming irrelevant. The big loser in all of this is the game of golf. Fans want to watch the best in the world go up against each other. We only get to see that 4x a year now instead of the four majors plus The Players, The Memorial, The Arnold Palmer, WGC events, etc. Damn shame.
OT: PGA and LIV Golf to merge….
- Thread starter mikemarc1
- Start date
Agreed. What's done is done. They don't even need to merge anymore. They just need to stop being jerks and allow players to play whatever events they want - PGA, LIV, majors. Sure, if you are a member of a particular tour, you need to meet the requirements of minimum play. However, after that, let players play. That would be good for golf.
Stupid response. Never said the PGA is done but you have proved yourself for being a blind clown. Ignore the facts. Tell me the biggest winner on the PGA Tour this season! Tell me a must see tournament this year that involved a big name pro. The best tournament was a college kid winning for the first time since Phil.
Let me explain it better for you. It doesn’t matter if there are no big names winning PGA tournaments. No one is going to watch LIV. It’s not a zero sum game. People don’t like the format.
Let me explain. I've never watched a second of the LIV. Why do you think I care about the LIV?? Stupid statement that you think no one cares that the a bunch of no names have been winning tournaments. Do you watch the DP Tour? It's actually been better this year
You are commenting on a thread about PGA and LIV. Of course big names get better rating. But again fans are not going to stop watching golf all together or switch to LIV. I do watch a lot of DP tour. It’s the only time I get watch TV before my kids wake up and takeover.
Unfortunately the PGA is turning into the DP Tour. A bunch of great, but no name, golfers winning tournaments. Yet Rory skips the PGA Mexico event to play in a made for TV Match on Monday night under the lights.
Interesting that golf “influencers” podcasts,instagram, YouTube etc… are seeing amazing growth and monetary success and the live PGA tour is seeing declining numbers. Had a podcast, golficity at one of our outings. Was amazed at the numbers they were sharing as to what the golf industry was throwing at these mid to high handicappers. They are sponsored by multiple brand names (titleist, foot joy, launch monitors, luxury car brand etc) Crazy!!!
You have kids at GoodGood making 7-8 figures and having their outings covered on NBC and peacock during primetime.
You have kids at GoodGood making 7-8 figures and having their outings covered on NBC and peacock during primetime.
Where do you see declining numbers for PGA?
Edit just read viewership was up 5% in 2023 vs 2022.
Was going off of what said in this thread regarding declining viewership.
jtung230 said:
LOL. PGA is done because of ratings are down. LIV doesn’t need ratings.
Guess you can’t believe what’s posted hahaha
But its amazing what numbers and access these influencers are pulling.
It’s all fake news. The successful influencers are doing great but that’s the top 1%. The rest are just wasting their time.
That’s life in a nutshell. There will always be time wasters but you have 50-100 podcasts that are putting up huge numbers monetarily. Trust me I discussed in great detail the numbers and sources of income with the podcast mentioned above. These guys gave up successful careers to pursue this “side gig” as they called it full time.
Then we went out on the course and I was amazed at how mediocre they were which is their appeal to attract the common golfer.
I doubt the influencers will last as we see the business model now. But there will always be a role for the next generation of disruption. But when I golf with my 24 year old nephew and his buddies they’re not talking about Rory and Rahm. They’re talking about Garet and Grant and bubbie from good good.
It’s just a new way of marketing. As long as they can have enough followers, the $ will flow in
Golf has been losing popularity as a sport ( my opinion and could be wrong) for a few years and this PGA vs. LIV feud isn't helping .
Another opinion of mine:
The stars that left the PGA has put a damper of that tours general appeal, but once the players that replaced them become better known the PGA will be back to being worth viewing for the casual fan.
The LIV is more cult like when it comes to watching their events and as long as the Saudis feel the LIV gives then is worth the price they are paying, LIV will go on as a competitor to the PGA but considered a second rate venue by most who watch golf
The PGA was very close to being forced to merge with the LIV because they couldn't match what Saudi Arabia was putting in the LIV, but with the $3 billion investment from the Strategic Sports Group they just received , the PGA can now demand better terms and try to make the Saudis spend less to keep the LIV going and let the LIV survive or fail on its own
You don’t know golf. The sport was saved by COVID. More rounds played and CC memberships are at ATH.
I stand corrected, I don't follow it as much as most posting in this thread and just look at a few articles involving what's going on in the world of golf.
After a quick google I did to see if you are right , proved your point from a quick look at some article headings I found .
What do you think about what else I said in that message you replied to the popularity part, showing my opinion on that was wrong.
I thank you for letting me know I was mistaken on that part of my message
From what I see. Popularity on the playing side is way up. Popularity on the professional golf side (outside of majors, Ryder cup and waste management) way down.
The one thing Covid taught us was to enjoy life experiences, not watch them. I would much rather be on a course than watching the pros sitting on my couch.
Phoenix open was up from last year. Genesis down from last year. Pebble down, but because of the rain out.
Don’t think overall they’re down..especially when the meat of the schedule hasn’t even began yet
Are you ignoring the fact that a top 30 player coming into the year hasn't won yet??
No. I just think theres plenty of factors these early season tournaments aren;t the most viewed.
LIV is pretty much irrelevant though now too. Yeah the Saudis plow money into it but TV ratings are abysmal, their streaming numbers aren’t great and attendance is weak, save for a random tournament.
A buddy was in Vegas for the SB and some of the casinos were giving away tickets. You could have gone online right at the start of Saturday’s final round and still bought tickets.
The only thing I think is likely to happen is two watered down tours.
Why this year then? Pebble was always a huge view. Can't blame it on the weather as the Saturday ratings sucked. No celebrities!
Why would Rory play in Mexico? It’s historically been a week off for a few top players, especially having just come off two signature events.
Because they made it one of their signature events they decided to make it just the players over the weekend this year.
PGA ratings are up even with the LIV defectors. They also just got a $3B investment. They also have the best courses in play.
LIV doesn't have a TV deal. They are in a lot more danger at this point. The Saudis are going to want to see a return and if they don't get a big TV rights deal, the league is dead in the water.
LIV doesn't have a TV deal. They are in a lot more danger at this point. The Saudis are going to want to see a return and if they don't get a big TV rights deal, the league is dead in the water.
my opinion is that golf fans don’t think LIV is golf. It sucks to lose the top players. I think if you are Rahm or DJ fan, you could switch to LIV. But most will not consider it as an alternative. I think the two tours decided they don’t want to go through the public scrutiny and settle. PGA was not in danger because they had the support of the top players and PIF can’t burn through money despite what everyone thinks.
The Mexico LIV event was a joke. People wouldn’t go for free.
Most golf fans would rather see unknowns like Knapp play lights out and win a PGA event than see Ian Poulter spraying it around some average course.
Most golf fans would rather see unknowns like Knapp play lights out and win a PGA event than see Ian Poulter spraying it around some average course.
Definitely the case for some of the lower events like this week's Mexico event. But I don't believe the case for some of the larger events. For example, the Players Championship is typically sold out. Not sure about this year, but I believe most of the rounds of last year's Genesis were sold out (save for some of the expensive club level tickets). And of course, the PGA makes more tickets available whereas LIV is struggling to get more than 10-15K in the gates each week other than a random event like the event in Australia last year. When you have players taking to social media to offer coupon codes for tickets, well..............
The Players is called the 5th major for a reason. It damn better be sold out. However, the product on the course will suffer without so many big names taking part.
It's the inevitable result of what's going on. As I said, unless something changes what we are left with is two watered down tours, one of which has few viewers already and another that slowly sees their viewership slide.
PGA viewership isn't sliding though. New stars will be born and the old ones not seen will fade away.
History agrees with you.
Ben Hogan
Arnie Palmer
Jack Nicklaus
Lee Trevino
Johnny Miller
Tom Watson
Greg Norman
Fred Couples
The most popular players came and went. Phil is now an afterthought. Who talks about DJ or Bryson anymore? Tiger? Yes he'll never be replaced and Rahm hurts for now but they'll be others to challenge and replace Spieth, Thomas, Fowler, Finau and the rest in populariry.
