Brandel Chamblee criticizes LIV Golf's low viewership numbers

The Players Championship had a successful showing last week, with strong TV ratings. Rory McIlroy's victory attracted large audiences both at the venue and on television. TV analyst Brandel Chamblee responded to these impressive numbers by criticizing LIV Golf and its players. Chamblee highlighted the stark contrast in ratings between the Players Championship and LIV Golf events. He noted that a recent playoff round for the Players Championship drew 1.5 million viewers. In comparison, he mentioned that LIV Golf's season finale last year only attracted 55,000 viewers, a claim he later corrected to reflect the actual numbers. While LIV Golf has been trying to grow its viewership, recent figures have not impressed. Their season opener on Fox Sports had just 54,000 average viewers. This ongoing struggle led Chamblee to assert that LIV Golf is "dying a slow costly death." In his comments, Chamblee indicated that LIV players are feeling regret over their decision to join the league. He argued they seek the prestige of competing at the highest level, but chose monetary incentives instead. Meanwhile, he praised the PGA Tour for thriving and emphasized the audience's clear preference for competitions that prioritize legacy and history. As for the potential collaboration between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, discussions earlier this year hinted at a possible reunification. However, negotiations seem to have stalled recently. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan expressed the need to maintain the Tour's strong momentum while continuing talks with LIV Golf players.