TLDR:
- Rory McIlroy expresses concern over declining viewership in men’s professional golf
- McIlroy attributes the decrease to the legal battle between the PGA Tour and Saudi circuit
Rory McIlroy recently highlighted the worrying trend of decreasing viewership in men’s professional golf, pointing out that the ongoing legal dispute between the PGA Tour and the Saudi circuit has played a significant role in this decline. McIlroy mentioned that the numbers for LIV Golf are also not great, indicating that people are becoming fatigued with the constant changes in the sport. He emphasized the importance of major tournaments, such as the upcoming Masters, in attracting viewership and bringing together top players from both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
Despite concerns over declining viewership, all eyes are on the Masters 2024, which promises to be a highly anticipated event. McIlroy is set to play at the Valero Texas Open before the Masters, while LIV Golf players have their own event scheduled in Miami. The focus is now on how major championships will fare in terms of viewership and whether they can attract more fans to men’s professional golf.
In his comments, McIlroy also suggested that the PGA Tour should adopt a model similar to the NBA in building their brand around top players to increase the popularity of the sport. The Masters 2024, scheduled to take place at the Augusta National Golf Club, is expected to feature 13 LIV golfers this year, adding to the excitement surrounding the tournament.