LIV star takes brutal swipe at PGA Tour over ….
Ian Poulter didn’t hold back in his criticism of the PGA Tour amidst the concerning trend of declining TV ratings. The 2024 season has seen a notable decrease in viewership, with events like the Waste Management Open and the Arnold Palmer Invitational experiencing drops of 30% and 15%, respectively. Even the prestigious Players Championship saw…
Ian Poulter didn’t hold back in his criticism of the PGA Tour amidst the concerning trend of declining TV ratings. The 2024 season has seen a notable decrease in viewership, with events like the Waste Management Open and the Arnold Palmer Invitational experiencing drops of 30% and 15%, respectively. Even the prestigious Players Championship saw a 10% decrease compared to the previous year.
However, perhaps the most surprising decline came during the recent Masters Tournament, where viewership plummeted by 20% during Sunday’s final round, despite Scottie Scheffler’s thrilling victory. This downward trend has raised alarms within the golfing community.
Poulter, a prominent figure on the LIV Golf side of the sport’s recent divide, took a swipe at the PGA Tour in response to a social media exchange. Referring to a nickname given to J.T. Poston, Poulter quipped that if borrowing his moniker helped boost the PGA Tour’s ratings, they were welcome to it.
The rift within the sport, exacerbated by the ongoing dispute between the PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, has also drawn commentary from Rory McIlroy and Max Homa. McIlroy highlighted the fatigue among fans due to the constant infighting, suggesting that it’s turning people away from men’s professional golf. Homa echoed similar sentiments, describing the financial battles as “nauseating.”
As the golfing world navigates these turbulent waters, the upcoming major championships will serve as litmus tests for the sport’s enduring popularity. However, with tensions running high and viewership on the decline, the future of professional golf remains uncertain.