The golf world is buzzing with the latest news from LIV Golf, and it’s not exactly music to their ears. LIV Golf’s first event of 2025 wrapped up on Saturday with Adrian Meronk taking the title in Riyadh, but the real story is the league’s dismal TV ratings. Despite debuting on Fox Sports, the event drew a mere 12,000 viewers for the first round, a number that’s hard to spin as anything but a disappointment.

You see, CBS’ Colt Knost pointed out that the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale’s viewership was bustling more than what LIV Golf’s entire first-round broadcast could muster. Many golf insiders are expressing their thoughts on LIV Golf’s plummeting viewership.

In the latest episode by No Laying Up on YouTube, the hosts discussed the dismal TV ratings of LIV Golf’s latest event. The numbers were shocking, with only 12,000 viewers tuning in to watch the first round on FS2. “I almost was hesitant to go with… because the numbers are so shocking. Round one Nielsen ratings on FS2 were an average of 12,000 viewers watching round one. I’m sure there were at least another 12,000 watching on the app,” they said.

To put that into perspective, the final round of the Pebble Beach tournament averaged a whopping 3.3 million viewers. The hosts couldn’t help but express their disappointment and frustration with the state of LIV Golf.

The hosts felt that LIV Golf is a “humongous waste” of talented golfers like Jon Rahm, who are essentially wasting their prime years on a league that’s not being taken seriously. They argued that if LIV Golf were treated like a real sports league, there would be more scrutiny and criticism of its management and decision-making. But what’s really happening?

USGA offers exemptions for U.S. Open

On the flip side for long, the league seems to be getting a free pass, despite its poor performance and lack of excitement. The hosts’ frustration is palpable, and it’s clear that they’re not alone in their disappointment with LIV Golf. “I mean, more than ever, it just feels like a humongous waste of all of these guys’ time and talent and the primes of their careers. It’s just a huge bummer,” they added. Amid the crazy drop in viewership, LIV Golf still has some good news to give.

In a surprising move, the USGA has announced that it will provide exemptions for LIV Golfers to participate in the U.S. Open. This decision comes as a relief for LIV Golfers who were worried about being shut out of the majors after being rejected by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). Under new rules, the top LIV player not already exempt gets a straight shot into the U.S. Open, while the next 10 earn spots in final qualifiers.

“The USGA just opened up a spot in the U.S. Open for the top LIV player who is not otherwise exempt (if they’re top 3 in LIV standings). They’ve also provided spots in final qualifying for the top 10 players in LIV standings who are not otherwise exempt,” mentioned Fore Play Podcast. This news is a game-changer for LIV Golfers who were struggling to find a way into the majors. The USGA’s decision shows that they are willing to listen to the fans and take steps to make the game more inclusive. Meanwhile, the PGA Tour is dealing with its own set of problems, including a significant drop in viewership due to the slow pace of play.

Despite efforts to address the issue, the tour saw a 56% drop in viewership at the American Express and a 34% drop at the Sentry. It’s clear that the golf world is undergoing some major changes, and it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.