It seems the sport of golf has hit another roadblock yet again! Greg Norman had, a while back, announced the schedule for the upcoming season of the Saudi-backed league, which is set to kick off on February 2nd. However, it appears the circuit was knocked down a notch by none other than some good old American football.

A post was shared by Josh Carpenter on his social media handle, mentioning how the PIF-funded circuit had supposedly sought out a partner for broadcasting its Friday rounds. However, while doing so, he also revealed how the alternate tour faced a massive hit, courtesy of the Super Bowl!

A troubling scene for LIV Golf in 2024?

The update that was shared as a tweet via the Sports Business Journal writer’s X handle divulged how the telecasts for the disruptive tour’s Friday rounds would be “streaming only.” Moreover, it was reportedly decided so following the inability of the league to secure a “linear partner for Friday rounds.”

Carpenter also disclosed in his tweet how the broadcast of the second round of the Las Vegas event that is set to kick off on February 8th would be aired on “the CW’s main linear channel.” But there’s a twist: it would, apparently, only be a taped “primetime telecast…from 8-10 pm ET,” since it “coincides with Super Bowl week.”

The annual league championship game of the NFL will be played in Las Vegas, Nevada, on the 11th of February, Sunday. Anyhow, the report that the Friday round was pushed down to air a “taped” version of the same in the primetime slot does paint a concerning picture for the game of golf as a whole.

The development would have come off as nothing short of a surprise for the Norman-led tour. Especially so, owing to the sub-par TV ratings that the league experienced in 2023.

The dipping viewership ratings of LIV Golf in 2023

The ratings and viewership witnessed a dip for the second season of LIV Golf. Although the disruptive tour managed to partner itself with The CW for two years, the channel itself, not having any prior noticeable sports programs coupled with all the rounds not being streamed, turned out to become a setback for the same.

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Adding on, a change in business model, including the number of events from 10 to 14 with an increase in team focus, combined with the PGA Tour having its own telecast at the same time as LIV pushed it further back on the ratings. In any case, it was truly a disappointing setback for the league.

But now, with the upcoming season, they would have surely hoped for a better situation. However, the telecast, reportedly, being pushed down does seem to be a cause for worry for Greg Norman’s LIV Golf in 2024.

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