Everything seemed on track until 2019, when COVID-19 hit and sent shockwaves across the globe. Like almost every other industry, sports felt the impact hard, but the world of golf faced something even more unexpected. While players and officials were still working to win back their fanbase, the arrival of the Saudi-funded league, LIV Golf in 2022, made things even more challenging. As top players jumped ship to join LIV, the PGA Tour saw a steep decline in both viewership and sponsor engagement.

For instance, Rory McIlroy shared earlier this year how the viewership for the 2024 Valspar Championship had dropped by 27% compared to the previous year. It wasn’t just a few events, the entire Tour seemed to be losing its grip. But throughout all these setbacks, one thing remained certain: Jay Monahan’s determination to keep the PGA Tour afloat.

In a recent appearance on the No Laying Up podcast, R&A chief Martin Slumbers took a moment to acknowledge Monahan’s leadership, particularly through the pandemic and the tough years that followed. Slumbers praised both Monahan and Keith Pelley, crediting them for guiding the tours through rough times. “I give huge credit to Jay and to Keith (Pelley) for the way they led the tours in those days,” he said.

While Monahan has faced his share of criticism, especially regarding his handling of LIV Golf and player defections, Slumbers pointed out the real work Monahan has done in steering the PGA Tour through the rough patches.

Indeed, it hasn’t been an easy ride, but the PGA Tour isn’t backing down. And with Monahan on the lead, it’s sure the boat of the PGA Tour won’t drown anytime soon.

Jay Monahan has some steady plans for PGA’s future

The PGA Tour has often been criticized for its outdated approach, which many argue contributes to its declining viewership. But Jay Monahan isn’t just sitting back. Back in March, he addressed these concerns head-on, noting, “All of our tournaments have grown year to date, and we just want to make sure we keep that momentum going. But in a complex business, it does come back down to, and it’s true for any sport, you’re only as strong as your fanbase and your ability to grow that fanbase.” (via Golf Monthly)

He also acknowledged the disruption in the sport but emphasized that disruption is nothing new for golf stating, “We do that week-in and week-out. Strength comes from a number of different factors. It comes from the strength of your membership, and we consistently as an organization regenerate talent and create stars.”

Now, the big question is when will these words come into action? The PGA Tour is certainly working on improving its future, but it’s facing stiff competition. A recent tweet from @MyGolfSpy highlighted a worrying statistic: the PGA Tour’s viewership has dropped by 3%, while LIV Golf has seen a 50% increase on YouTube. That’s a significant gap, and it’s clear that LIV is currently outpacing the PGA Tour in terms of digital engagement.

But it’s too soon to Monahan out just yet. Yes, these numbers are ‘alarming’, but the PGA Tour Commissioner isn’t sleeping either. It’s now a waiting game to see how quickly the PGA Tour can close that gap and possibly overtake LIV Golf. Whether the Tour will successfully make that leap and regain its dominant position over Greg Norman’s circuit is yet to be seen.

What do you think? Can the PGA Tour bounce back, despite all the setbacks and fierce competition? Let us know in the comments!