Golf fans love a good rivalry, but what happens when one side struggles to even stay in the fight? LIV Golf burst onto the scene with deep pockets, star-studded rosters, and promises to revolutionize the sport. Yet, almost three years in, the numbers paint a different picture. Viewership remains abysmal, critics are louder than ever, and its highly anticipated merger with the PGA Tour seems to be falling apart behind closed doors. So, is LIV Golf truly on the verge of a breakthrough, or is it simply a billion-dollar experiment that’s failing to capture the audience it desperately needs?
Another LIV Golf tournament has concluded, and once again, the spotlight is on its underwhelming TV ratings. The Hong Kong event, held from March 6-9, 2025, saw Sergio Garcia and his Fireballs GC team clinch victory. However, the final round drew a mere 17,000 viewers—a stark contrast to the PGA Tour’s WM Phoenix Open, which attracted nearly 2.9 million viewers. The numbers weren’t even close.
A strong stance on LIV Golf’s viewership numbers
Fans were quick to voice their discontent, with one commenting, “What a waste of billions of dollars…” Another called out the ongoing scheduling issues: “Nightmare numbers. And if you claim it’s due to the time zone, well, there is no way to fix that, is there?” Sure, broadcasting an Asian event to a U.S. audience is tricky, but time zones alone don’t explain these numbers. Even when placed in more favorable slots, LIV has struggled. Its Fox Sports debut earlier this year pulled just 54,000 viewers on FS1 and 31,000 on FS2. The league’s opening night saw only 12,000 average viewers—a shocking number, considering its switch from the CW to a more reputable network.
Some believe the upcoming Miami event might change the narrative.” I still think that LIV Miami will be the first tournament that US TV numbers will actually matter, but 17k is brutal… I’d love to know the number of people who have purchased the subscription,” one fan speculated. Another added, “Going to be hard to take anything from LIV ratings until Miami next month. But only 17,000 people watching? Yeesh.” But history suggests otherwise. Last year’s LIV Individual Championship in Chicago averaged just 89,000 viewers, a massive drop from its 286,000 debut on CW in Mexico.
#LIVGolfHongKong TV Viewership – Final Round (Saturday Night):
• FS2 (11:35P-12:45A): 12,000 viewers
• FS1 (12:45A-5:30A): 17,000 viewers
Anemic viewership aside (it was a terrible window), I am looking forward to seeing some of the LIV guys play in the upcoming majors
— @YeahClickClack (@YeahClickClack) March 11, 2025
The biggest red flag? LIV has now stopped publicly reporting TV ratings. A fan summed it up with one word: “Yikes.” That said, LIV still has a chance to reshape its viewership strategy. While its ratings are currently below cable channels like Disney Junior and Great American Family, it’s too soon to call it a complete failure. The league has money, star power, and a distinct format. But if LIV wants to be a serious competitor, it needs more than just headlines—it needs actual viewers. Perhaps a merger could have been a plus point in these desperate hours, but even that seems uncertain, as usual.
With the merger talks in the air, LIV’s future seems uncertain
As LIV Golf fights to stay relevant, its much-hyped merger with the PGA Tour isn’t looking any better. The first high-level meeting took place at the White House on February 20, 2025. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan described it as “constructive” but gave no real details, leaving fans in the dark. A few weeks later, reports surfaced that the meeting didn’t go as planned. Then, Rory McIlroy hinted at deeper issues, cryptically stating, “It takes two to tango,” implying that LIV Golf might not be as eager to finalize the deal as expected.
Then, Monahan dropped a bombshell—Donald Trump played a key role in LIV talks and even got a thank-you. But with tensions high and no clear path forward, this merger saga is far from over! But what about golf? Sure, the TV ratings weren’t great, but does that mean the tournament wasn’t thrilling? Not at all. LIV Golf Hong Kong delivered high-stakes drama, with Sergio Garcia and his Fireballs GC pulling off a dominant double victory—winning both the individual and team titles.
Garcia was unstoppable, shooting a bogey-free 7-under 63 to finish three shots clear of Dean Burmester. But the real test came on the final hole. While his individual win was secured, he needed a clutch par to avoid a team playoff. He rolled in a tap-in, sealing the Fireballs’ sixth title. Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson delivered his best LIV performance yet, finishing solo third at 14 under—his first podium finish since joining the league. Garcia, too, is in red-hot form, with two wins, three runner-ups, and 13 top-20 finishes in his last 16 events. His secret weapon? A familiar putter. “He’s a machine,” said teammate Luis Masaveu.
TV ratings are tanking, merger talks are stuck, and doubt is creeping in. LIV Golf’s got cash, stars, and a fresh format, but can it survive without real viewership? Miami might be its make-or-break moment.
The post ‘Waste of Billions of Dollars’: LIV Golf Gets Brutal Wake-Up Call Over Viewership from Fans Amid Merger Woes appeared first on EssentiallySports.
