Jay Monahan, the commissioner of the PGA Tour, has been granted a brief relief. The narrative has changed despite the uncertainty of the merger negotiations with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia because of an unexpected surge in viewership. The Charles Schwab Challenge’s final round drew 2.083 million viewers on Sunday. Compared to 1.854 million viewers the previous year, this represents remarkable progress.

This boost could not have come at a better moment for Monahan. The merger with PIF has been an issue of a lot of differing opinions. Opponents, as well as supporters, have expressed publicly how unhappy they are with the lack of openness and advancement in these conversations. However, the recent success in viewership has provided a much-needed distraction.

Josh Carpenter, a golf critic on X, recently shared this info in a post. The post read, “CBS draws 2.083M viewers for Sunday’s final round of the Charles Schwab Challenge, won by Davis Riley. That’s up 12% from last year (1.854M) for Emiliano Grillo. Year-over-year viewership increases in three of the last four events for the tour.”

The PGA Tour has achieved a minor victory with the rise in ratings. It proves that their main offering still intrigues consumers. However, it also makes supporters ignorant of the ongoing issues related to the merger. The attention has briefly switched from the controversy unfolding behind closed doors to the action taking place on the field.

Fans roast LIV Golf, while Jay Monahan escapes scrutiny

The rise in viewership also affected fan reactions. Now, the usual culprits who critique the PGA Tour are focusing once more on LIV Golf. Fans who are eager to make fun of LIV supporters and the league have taken to social media. Supporters who were disappointed by Jay Monahan’s position and the PGA Tour’s merger discussions now have more reason to criticize LIV Golf.

One fan sarcastically wrote, “Devastating for the LIV fans and accounts like @ProGolfCritic, @RedHarrington44, and PGALIVHotTakes.” This comment is making fun of the usual accounts that usually comment on the drop in viewership and put the blame on Jay Monahan and the PGA Tour. The fan here is calling them out on their behavior, and the lost chance with this event.

Another user quipped, “More than LIV has had since its inception.” This fan is using the numbers as a fun way of calling out the Breakaway League, saying that they cannot even match this number. These comments reflect a shift in focus. Fans are redirecting their frustration with the PGA Tour towards LIV Golf.

One tweet stood out. The commenter wrote, “How will @livgolf_league spin this one?” This sentiment underscores the ongoing rivalry between the two leagues. It also highlights the fans’ readiness to pounce on any perceived failure by LIV Golf. The fact that LIV Golf will be unable to spin this news in their favor seems unlikely, and that is exactly what the fan is calling out.

For a little while, Monahan and his group may rest easy thanks to the rise in the PGA Tour’s ratings. LIV Golf is under more scrutiny as the number of viewers rises. Supporters are eager to point fingers at the rival league, using the PGA Tour’s achievements as an example. This brief change in emphasis gives Monahan some breathing room. However, it doesn’t address the more significant issue at hand, which is the Merger.

Ultimately, the recent success of the PGA Tour in terms of ratings serves as a reminder of the sport’s ongoing popularity. But it also shows how erratic the fans can be. On-field achievements have the power to divert their focus, but fundamental problems still exist. For the PGA Tour to remain stable and continue to expand over time, Monahan and his crew will need to manage these challenges.