LIV Golf suffers ratings blow as FOX Sports | Golf News

The inaugural spherical of LIV Golf Riyadh in Saudi Arabia attracted an average viewership of merely 12,000 on FOX Sports’ debut broadcast of the new golf circuit. The 2025 LIV season kicked off this week within the Saudi Arabian capital amidst a lot hype and anticipation.

Prior to the season’s begin, the Saudi-backed league underwent vital adjustments, together with appointing Scott O’Neil as CEO in place of Greg Norman, and securing a TV contract with FOX Sports.

Thursday marked FOX’s first-ever broadcast of a LIV occasion, and a shift within the begin time in Saudi Arabia made it more handy for American followers to watch.

Consequently, the shotgun begin commenced at 6:15 pm native time, with gamers competing underneath the night time lights in Riyadh.

However, regardless of the timing adjustment, curiosity from American viewers appeared restricted, with an average of 12,000 tuning into FOX Sports 2 during the mid-morning and afternoon hours.

Despite a difficult begin, there’s optimism that LIV’s new settlement will enhance the league’s tv presence going ahead. This comes amid a noticeable decline in viewership throughout all golf tours lately, together with the PGA Tour, which has seen its ratings steadily drop season after season.

New LIV boss O’Neil is claimed to have performed a massive position in finishing the FOX settlement. “We are thrilled to partner with FOX Sports, one of the preeminent broadcast networks in the world,” he mentioned following an official announcement final month.

“LIV Golf is getting bigger and bolder, and this relationship signals the next phase of growth as our League joins the company of the nation’s premier sports leagues and conferences. I want to thank the FOX Sports team who share our vision for the future of golf, a new model that is redefining how the sport is experienced.

“LIV Golf is drawing a youthful, more energetic, and tech-savvy fan base, and as our gamers and groups put together for LIV Golf’s greatest season but, this settlement will take our broadcast to new heights.”

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The move was also welcomed by two of the league’s biggest players. “This partnership is a large step ahead for LIV Golf and our followers as it is going to help deliver our tournaments to a broader viewers,” said Jon Rahm.

“FOX Sports has a popularity for delivering world-class sports activities protection and I’m assured they may elevate the expertise for everybody watching.|I consider FOX Sports shares our dedication to pushing boundaries and innovating, and I am unable to wait to see how this collaboration connects more followers to our sport.”

A similar sentiment was shared by Brooks Koepka who added: “Having FOX Sports on board is a large win for LIV Golf “They know how to deliver sports activities to life, and I’m pumped to see how they showcase what makes our recreation so distinctive. It’s superior to have a accomplice that shares our imaginative and prescient, and I feel the followers are going to like what’s coming.