Max Homa has now voiced his opinion on the decrease in viewership of professional golf, which was discussed by Rory McIlroy amidst the ongoing dispute between PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
Max Homa openly addressed the concerning decline in TV viewership within the PGA Tour following Rory McIlroy attributing it to LIV Golf’s fallout.
At last week’s Masters, the downward trend persisted as Sunday’s final round of the opening major championship had a staggering 20 percent decrease in TV viewership compared to the previous year. This decline at Augusta is not an isolated incident as similar patterns were observed at some of PGA Tour’s most significant events.
The Waste Management Phoenix Open saw a decrease of 35 percent in attendance at TPC Scottsdale in February. The Arnold Palmer Invitational and last month’s Players Championship also experienced drops, with declines of 15 percent and 10 percent respectively.
Following his remarkable performance at Augusta National, Homa spoke out about the apparent lack of enthusiasm among fans and criticized the ongoing financial disputes in top-level sports as the primary cause. “I’ve been genuinely surprised by how drained I feel this year due to all these unnecessary issues,” he announced during a statement made at RBC Heritage tournament.
The Masters, Bay Hill and The Players were all amazing events that I had the privilege of attending. Today’s turnout on a Wednesday was impressive but based on internet statistics it appears fans may be experiencing fatigue with so many recent golfing tournaments taking place.
“They may be experiencing fatigue. It’s perplexing why they would concern themselves with our earnings and aspirations for more income. The idea makes me queasy,” expressed the American, adding, “I believe we’ve been stuck in a rut as golfers and within our leagues for about eighteen months to two years due to an intense focus on pleasing players.”
Regrettably, it was evident that the fans were not receiving any benefits. However, I maintain optimism in realizing soon enough that without their viewership, we amount to nothing and they can opt out whenever they please. My desire is for more creativity and enhancement of their viewing experience so as to provide greater entertainment value because ultimately it’s why we get to do what we love.
McIlroy, who became a key figure in the PGA Tour-LIV controversy, expressed his views on the decline of TV ratings during an interview. Despite distancing himself from off-course politics, the Northern Irishman acknowledged that conflicting interests between rival tours were contributing to the issue.
“Earlier this month, McIlroy stated that TV ratings for the PGA Tour have dropped by 20 percent overall. This amounts to a substantial decrease of one-fifth. Additionally, based on observations he made about LIV’s viewership numbers, it seems that its audience is also dwindling. The constant fighting and turmoil in recent years may be responsible as people are becoming weary.”
The dwindling interest in men’s professional golf is concerning for everyone involved. The upcoming major championships, particularly excluding Augusta which stands apart, will be worth monitoring closely to gauge the sport’s overall appeal.
