The PGA Tour has faced its fair share of challenges. It ranges from disputes over LIV Golf to dwindling viewership for some of its major events. The 2025 American Express tournament is just the latest example of the tour’s struggles. When comparing the television ratings of the 2025 tournament to the 2024 event, it’s clear the stakes were higher last year. It happened with Nick Dunlap made history as the first amateur winner in 33 years. One must-know top golfers like Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele dominated this year.

In contrast, the 2025 tournament saw a sharp 57% drop in ratings on Golf Channel. The absence of significant achievements and the withdrawal of top players, such as Scheffler and Schauffele, likely caused this outcome. With Sepp Straka’s comfortable win, drawing just 232,000 viewers, the event failed to generate much buzz. However, amidst these ongoing challenges, a co-host of Barstool Sports may have a bold solution for the PGA Tour’s woes.

In the latest episode of the Fore Play Podcast, one host said, “The idea of seeing Patrick Reed and Bryson in these events and you know we’ve talked a lot about it where it’s these polarizing players for whatever reason seem to be the type that went to live because they were just like we’re done with the PGA Tour.” Well, Bryson DeChambeau is simply on top now and remains the fan favorite. And let’s not forget Patrick Reed and his controversial rule violations. These are aspects that engage the audience, sparking conversations and keeping them invested in the player. 

He added how Scottie Scheffler might be the best golfer winning several tournaments in just one season. But he is not ‘the most electric guy’. Remember his arrest at the PGA Championship last year? That was the maximum controversy he could get into.

However, that does not add up to the excitement. “On the golf course, you need the Patrick Reeds and the Bryson and the Bubbas and the weirdos. you need weirdos to make things interesting so the sooner we can have that the better off we’re going to be”. 

“I’ll be so excited the first time Patrick Reed is in a PGA Tour field again. how great will that be.” To which, the other host added, “Me too. just the interactions dude.” They go on to reminisce about one of the significant feuds that came after the division of the leagues.

A walk down the disturbing yet interesting feud between Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed

An awkward encounter with LIV Golf player Patrick Reed marred Rory McIlroy’s first start of the 2023 season at the Dubai Desert Classic. McIlroy declined to acknowledge Reed’s handshake. It reportedly led to Reed throwing a tee in his direction. When discussing the incident ahead of the tournament, McIlroy downplayed it, calling it a “storm in a teacup.”

Plus, he insisted it wasn’t a big deal. He mentioned not seeing or feeling the tee Reed supposedly threw and expressed disbelief that it had become a story at all.

The tension, however, had deeper roots. McIlroy later explained his reluctance to engage with Reed stemmed partly from a difficult moment around Christmas, when Reed’s law firm, Klayman Law Group, served him with a subpoena. McIlroy was trying to enjoy the holidays with his family. So, receiving legal papers on Christmas Eve understandably soured his mood.

He made it clear that, given the situation, he didn’t expect any warm interactions with Reed. Taking to this feud, the host stated, “We don’t get it’s sort of like the Tour guys are all sort of the Tour guys and they’re all like kind of on their team of the Tour. the LIV guys are all happy to be LIV. so it’s like they’re not intermingling.”