PGA Tour Star Adamant Brooks Koepka, Rahm’s Return Won’t Fix Jay Monahan’s Headache: ‘Need Better Product’

Ah, the new year started the hopes of something better, but wait, what do we smell? Is that another drop in PGA Tour ratings? That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, the viewing numbers for the latest tournament are in, and they’re not exactly what the PGA Tour would have hoped for. Sepp Straka’s win at the AmEx on Sunday drew a modest 232,000 viewers on Golf Channel, a significant drop from last year’s 534,000 viewers who tuned in to watch Nick Dunlap make history as the first amateur winner on tour in over 30 years. Even two years ago, Jon Rahm’s win attracted 391,000 viewers, a number that now seems like a distant memory. The decline in ratings is a worrying trend for the PGA Tour and one that they’ll be eager to reverse in the coming months.

PGA Tour pro—Byeong Hun An took to Twitter to express his concerns about the future of the sport, and it’s clear he’s not alone in his worries. An thinks that the merger with LIV golfers like Jon Rahm and Koepka might not be the magic solution to boost ratings, predicting that while there might be an initial surge in interest, viewership will eventually drop off again. “It looks that way. I don’t think bringing the players from LIV will help it massively. We will see the rating go up the first couple and start dropping again”, he wrote.

An believes that what’s really needed is a more compelling product, with more golf and fewer commercials. “I do agree the game will be healthier and better with the deal but I think we need a better product, more golf to be shown, less commercial, etc. ” He’s not sure what that would look like, but he’s hoping someone, somewhere, has a brilliant idea to revitalize the sport and make it more engaging for fans.

But how is Jay Monahan planning to help the continuous cycle of decreasing viewership? Well, he may have some plans.

How is Jay Monahan trying to rescue the PGA Tour from plummeting numbers?

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan is walking a thin line as he tries to downplay the alarming decline in TV ratings. When asked about the freefalling numbers, Monahan deftly shifted the focus to the Tour’s “overall consumption” being up, citing aggregate metrics that are harder to quantify. “I think when you look at 2024, it’s important to note, and I’m going to note it, that overall consumption across our platforms in aggregate is up,” Monahan said. “That’s a really good sign for the PGA Tour and the engagement that we have with our fans.” While this response may seem like a clever spin, it’s clear that Monahan is trying to divert attention away from the dismal TV ratings. The numbers are undeniably bad, with a reported 15-17% drop in viewership from 2023.

Monahan’s strategy is likely driven by the fact that the PGA Tour is locked into its TV contracts with NBC and CBS until the end of the decade. With billions of dollars at stake, Monahan is wisely choosing not to undermine the Tour’s position by acknowledging the severity of the ratings decline. Instead, he’s opting to emphasize the positives, such as the growth in reach and consumption, in an effort to stabilize the ship. “Nielsen itself is currently looking at its own system and will be announcing changes to its system,” Monahan added. “When you look at reach at the PGA Tour, when that comes out, you’re likely to see a double-digit increase in reach from the PGA Tour, as they’ve been able to further dig into the intelligence that they are now capable of receiving through other partners.” However, the reality is that the PGA Tour needs to address the underlying issues driving the decline in TV ratings, or risk facing a more permanent slump. So, what do you think Monahan’s strategy will work in the 2025 season? Let us know in the comment section below!

Top Comment by onerockingfool

First off, who cares what Chamblee thinks? And I’m a 65 year old traditionist. Even I don’t care for him...more

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