TV Ratings Showdown: PGA Tour Soars while LIV Golf Lags Behind

If you tuned into golf recently, the difference in viewership between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf wasn’t subtle—it was overwhelming.

The PGA Tour continues to dominate the airwaves, while LIV Golf struggles to find an audience.

🚨⛳️📈 #BIG RATINGS — CBS Sports says they’ve landed the most-watched golf season in seven years and the best since 2018.

✔️ Up +17% from last year
✔️ 2.969 Million Viewers in 2025
✔️ 14 of 19 Final rounds on CBS hit year-over-year viewership increases
✔️ Paramount+ lands its… pic.twitter.com/YVsOU5X0lM

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) August 5, 2025

Let’s break down the numbers, context, and what it means for both leagues.

PGA Tour Draws Millions—LIV Golf Nowhere Close

Across Sundays when both tours aired events in 2025, PGA Sunday broadcasts on CBS/NBC averaged 3.1 million viewers, compared to LIV’s 175,000 on FOX/FS1/FS2. That’s almost an 18-fold difference, underscoring how dominant the PGA’s reach remains.

PGA Tour Ratings Continue to Surge While LIV Golf’s TV Audience Lags https://t.co/W3C84ABOxy

— ThomasG (@ThomasG71823947) August 14, 2025

A Closer Look at Broadcast Networks

Even on FOX—the strongest network slot for LIV—the averages improved only slightly. LIV’s best event in that window earned 475,000 viewers, still 6.5 times lower than the PGA Tour.

Weekly Disparities Highlight the Gap

One prime example: during the FedEx St. Jude Championship and LIV Chicago finals, the PGA Tour drew 3.6 million viewers, while LIV fell short with just 334,000 tuning in.

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Meanwhile, LIV’s peak—for LIV Miami at Doral—hit 484,000 viewers, but still trailed behind even modest PGA events.

Not Winning on Broadcast, but Making Waves Digitally?

It’s not all bad news for LIV. Metrics suggest it’s finding traction among younger fans. Studies indicate a median viewer age of 39–45 for LIV, with over 50% under 45—an audience advertisers covet.

Why the PGA Remains King—For Now

• Prime Time Visibility: PGA Tour airs on free, legacy networks like CBS and NBC; LIV is fragmented across cable channels with limited exposure.
• Star-Driven Viewership: Established superstars (McIlroy, Scheffler, etc.) maintain strong audience loyalty.
• Event Prestige & Legacy: The PGA Tour benefits from tradition and historical weight; LIV’s brand is still building.

Bottom Line: Who Shapes the Future of Golf Fans?

Right now, PGA Tour holds the ratings crown—but golf’s digital future is still forming. LIV may be losing viewership battles on traditional TV, but its youth appeal and streaming presence could give it staying power. As one analyst put it: the true victory lies in capturing the next-generation fan—not just today’s ratings.

Cover Image via X