Updates
Later, 1:26 p.m. CT: impossible to watch. Unnecessary weather delay, and now the switchover from "Golf Channel" to NBC switching to LPGA. Impossible to watch. Switching to Fox and watching NCAA football.
- Nebraska vs Northwestern: in Ireland. Apparently, beer is free inside the stadium.
Original Post
The PGA is in the fight for its life competing with the LIV.
All year, I can find live action and re-airing of PGA tournaments throughout the four-day tournament.
Now, the most important, the final, the championship tournament, nada, nothing, zilch. The first two rounds were televised live only on the "Golf Channel" meaning most / many folks did not see either round on television.
Now, the third round will be shown live only on "Golf Channel" for the first ninety minutes later this afternoon and then moved over to NBC.
Same for the Sunday round.
What are they thinking?
The favorite, Will Zalatoris, withdrew due to a back injury suffered last week.
Of course, Tiger Woods, Phil M., Bryan D, and the other big names won't be there either.
So, we're left with Scottie Scheffler, up by two, followed by Xander Schauffele, Jon Rahm, and Patrick Cantlay, followed by also-rans. Except for Rory McIlroy but he's seven strokes back and simply enjoying another walk in the park.
Truly pathetic.
After this weekend, expect more PGA players to move over to the LIV.
On another note, fans of professional golf may have just dropped below critical mass. Viewership is already very low and now if twenty-five percent of the PGA fan base leaves with the big names that left for LIV, it's going to be tough sledding for the PGA.
The fact that NBC is airing and streaming so little of the tournament this weekend speaks volumes. Couldn't find enough advertisers to make it worthwhile. Meanwhile, I can watch Caddyshack on Hulu.
NBC is airing 4.5 hours of coverage Saturday and Sunday. TGC an additional 1.5 hours each day. I'd say that's pretty well covered!
ReplyDeleteLIV is a sad joke. These players sold their professional careers to MBS and are now exhibition golfers that stream on Youtube. Sure they got lots of money upfront but lost most of their sponsors and will be excluded from all Majors going forward. They'll be lots of whining from the LIV exhibition golfers next April!
It's all in the eye of the beholder. For the FedEx championship, 4.5 hours, only the the airing itself. All season I could tune in any time on Hulu and watch any of the rounds 24/7 -- today, Saturday morning, I couldn't find any of the first or second rounds because they weren't streaming. I was blown away by the PGA not airing / streaming this tournament 24/7. What were they thinking? Every other PGA tournament this past year was streamed 24/7 once the tournament began and continued into the next week.
DeleteImagine: 4.5 hours total for the Super Bowl (NFL)? Shoot, they do 4.5 hours pre-game for the Super Bowl.