Nick Faldo aims brutal dig at LIV Golf whilst poking fun at Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka

Nick Faldo Criticizes LIV Golf While Hosting the Betfred British Masters at The Belfry

Nick Faldo, hosting this week’s Betfred British Masters at The Belfry, didn’t hold back in his criticism of LIV Golf, particularly highlighting the negative impact the Saudi-backed series has had on the professional game.

Faldo, a prominent figure in European golf, is a staunch supporter of the DP World Tour and PGA Tour. Throughout golf’s recent upheavals, he has remained a vocal critic of LIV Golf, and this week in Sutton Coldfield was no exception. Speaking about the league’s appeal, or lack thereof, Faldo remarked, “I think they [LIV] are an island and go and do their own thing. That’s absolutely fine with me, go and play their tour. But after three seasons, we’re seeing that they haven’t really moved the needle in terms of [viewing] numbers.”

Faldo also pointed out LIV Golf’s struggles with television viewership, humorously noting that even pickleball outperformed a LIV Golf play-off featuring stars like Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm. “The sort of excitement everyone wants. But it got beat for viewership by pickleball,” Faldo added. “The players might have the last laugh with the big paydays, but they’re not driving the sport forward.”

However, LIV Golf isn’t the only tour grappling with dwindling viewership. The PGA Tour has also seen a decline, with recent figures revealing that the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the opening event of this year’s FedEx Cup playoffs, saw a 30% drop in viewership compared to the previous year.

Faldo attributes this decline to LIV Golf’s financial influence. “It’s been so damaging to the public’s attitude towards golf,” he explained. “I still talk to my producer friends in TV, and people just aren’t watching as much. It’s hurt the attitude towards golf.”

Reflecting on his 18 years in television, Faldo shared that discussing prize money was once a rare occurrence. “When the FedEx Cup went to $10 million, I remember saying, ‘Wow, this putt is worth $10 million!’ But now, the focus on money is overwhelming, and it’s really changed the game.”

Ironically, leading the charge at Faldo’s event at The Belfry is Tyrrell Hatton, a LIV Golf player himself. Hatton, seeking to maintain his Ryder Cup eligibility for 2025, returned to the DP World Tour and shot a remarkable seven-under-par 65 on Friday, placing him at 10-under, one shot ahead of his competitors.