The 2025 Valero Texas Open may have had its ups and downs, but one thing is certain — Brian Harman’s win was a thrilling conclusion to the tournament. The event, held on NBC, showcased exceptional golf and left viewers on the edge of their seats. The final round drew 1.746 million viewers on NBC, a 20% decrease from last year’s final round, which saw 2.179 million viewers.

However, it’s worth noting that the event faced stiff competition from LIV Golf, which aired at the same time and managed to draw 484,000 viewers for its final round. Despite the dip in viewership, the PGA Tour’s coverage on NBC and Peacock has generally been performing well. Over the last six final rounds, the tour has averaged 2.7 million viewers, a 13% increase over the same events in 2024. NBC Sports’s PGA Tour coverage has also delivered six consecutive weekends of viewership gains, a positive trend heading into the Valero Texas Open.

The Saudi-backed league may have reached a milestone, but fans took to social media to express their disappointment and mock the league’s performance. Despite LIV Golf’s efforts, fans still seem to be favoring the PGA Tour, and the latest viewership numbers only add fuel to the fire.

As the golf world continues to evolve, one thing is clear: fans are still passionate about the PGA Tour, and LIV Golf has a long way to go to match its popularity.

Netizens rip LIV Golf apart in the comments

Starting off strong with what one fan said, “Liv is such a failure. Can’t imagine the total money lost on that circus”, while the other said, “PGA tour dominating LIV per usual!!! Like Chamblee said, LIV is dying a slow death.” Well, it is true that the PGA Tour is thriving, while LIV Golf’s popularity seems to be waning. Not even a month ago, Golf analyst Brandel Chamblee took a swipe at LIV Golf, saying it’s “dying a slow costly death.” The recent PGA Tour flagship event, won by Rory McIlroy in a thrilling playoff, drew an impressive 3.6 million viewers on NBC on Sunday, with a peak audience of 6.2 million at 7 pm.

In contrast, LIV Golf’s season-ender last year, which featured Jon Rahm winning in prime time on the East Coast, managed a mere 55,000 viewers. Chamblee pointed out the stark difference, saying that “people tune in to sports that matter,” and that LIV players are suffering from “seller’s remorse,” seeking the prestige of competing at the highest level but prioritizing money over legacy. “But all the viewers on the app 😂😂😂”, one fan said, while the other bluntly wrote, “I sincerely hope the PGA has decided not to merge with LIV in any form or fashion.” 

Well, for fans who don’t want a merger, Jon Rahm has some good news. “It’s not happening anytime soon,” he said bluntly. Rahm’s prioritizing the Masters tournament, believing that it’s special in its own right, and nothing can make it more significant than it already is. “I think all of our concerns should be on this week, and things outside of that we can let ourselves think about outside this week,” he said, staying focused on the task at hand. For Rahm, the event stands on its own merit, and he believes that it doesn’t need anything extra to make it more appealing. “I don’t think you need to do anything to make it any more special than it already is,” he added

One fan said something that may be on everyone’s mind: “These numbers are an absolute disaster for LIV.”  LIV Golf Adelaide skyrocketed in terms of viewership numbers, with impressive figures on both sides of the globe. In the US, the final round drew an average of 249,000 viewers on FOX between 11PM and 2:30AM, according to Nielsen ratings. Meanwhile, in Australia, the event averaged 225,000 viewers on Channel Seven, showcasing a significant audience interest in the tournament. So, what are your thoughts on the matter? Let us know in the comment section below!