LIV Golf players and fans have been in celebration mode recently. One might think it is because the 2025 season has kicked off. But the reality is much different and far more promising than that. The USGA and the R&A have made some major announcements recently that might have surprised most if not all of the golf community. For anyone who isn’t aware, the USGA and R&A are the governing bodies of the major events; the U.S. Open and the Open Championship.

And for anyone who may have not figured it out yet, the LIV Golf players will finally get recognized by these authorities. How,  you ask? Well, as per their recent statements, the top LIV Golf players will get an exemption in the U.S. Open and the Open Championship.

This news was well received by many of the fans who follow both leagues. But not everyone has taken kindly to the latest headlines. There are some who have been very critical of the officials of the two majors legitimising LIV Golf. One such individual is famed sports commentator, Taylor Zarzour.

Joining the 5 Clubs podcast with Gary Williams, Zarzour was asked for his thoughts about LIV Golf’s best players getting exemption in the U.S. Open and Open Championship. To which he replied that he was truly surprised by the decision made by the USGA and the R&A. He believes “it’s giving some extra legitimacy to a league that has really struggled to find any credibility in the last four years.” Zarzour’s criticisms are valid considering that it’s only in 2025 that LIV Golf has finally managed to find a good broadcaster. Says a lot about a league that aspires to compete with the PGA Tour.

Zarzour thinks that LIV Golf has found it difficult “reaching new people and people connecting to their tournaments each week”. It’s hard to disagree with the analyst as, despite the broadcast deal with Fox Sports, the Saudi-based league has still not been able to get much better viewership. It is possible that they may have reached their maximum potential.

Further criticizing LIV Golf’s approach, Zarzour mentioned how LIV Golf needed to stop playing and have a half-time show to keep the fans hooked. He said the PIF-funded circuit shouldn’t divert from the on-course action when there are “only barely over a 10,000 people that watch the tournament”. Zarzour said that “it does not feel like a real competitive event,” suggesting that LIV Golf is more like the TGL than the PGA Tour.

The critic did speak kindly of Joaquin Niemann, calling him “one of the best players in the world”. However, he believes that such outstanding players should receive invitations from the majors instead of allowing them to qualify through the LIV Golf format. To be fair, Niemann has been performing incredibly over the past few months. He has won the PIF Saudi International and finished second in the LIV Golf individual standings at the end of the 2024 season.

But LIV Golf’s debut on Fox Sports still would have helped it gain more viewers, right? Let’s check the numbers of the 2025 LIV Golf Riyadh event to determine its success.

Did LIV Golf Riyadh 2025 on Fox Sports attract better viewership?

LIV Golf partnering with Fox Sports was expected to be a ground-breaking deal with the former foreseeing a major boost in viewership. Moreover, LIV Golf Riyadh was specifically scheduled as such to fit the prime viewing window for the American audience. That meant that the event teed off at around 6 PM in Saudi Arabia. LIV Golf clearly had a plan to gain maximum exposure and get record-breaking viewership.

Unfortunately, things didn’t turn out the way they had hoped for. LIV Golf Riyadh was a major flop with the broadcast partners reporting a mere 12,000 viewers for the first round. In fact, insiders also believed that LIV Golf wasted their star players like Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau by mismanaging the season-opening event. The ridiculous viewership and TV ratings further proved Zarzour’s statement, giving his critique of LIV Golf much credibility.

Do you think LIV Golf players deserve a spot in majors like the U.S. Open and the Open Championship? Let us know in the comments section.