The LIV Golf Trailer: A Mixed Reception
So far, LIV Golf has released a one-minute trailer, which contains an almost startling amount of… let’s refer to it as nonsense.
Anticipating Viewer Numbers
Following its release, particularly timed with the start of Masters week, we will soon see the TV ratings for LIV Miami. This will reveal how many viewers are engaging with them in the world’s leading golf market. It’s expected to attract more viewers than LIV Singapore, but whether that will be sufficient to warrant the investment remains in doubt.
Failure to Build Support
LIV Golf has notably struggled to gain acceptance. Whether it was possible to evade this backlash as the golfing arm of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund remains unclear. However, LIV has accumulated too many adversaries and risks generating more. The golf community largely opposed the initiative from its inception. Have they managed to win over even a single critic? Has there been any real effort to do so?
A Misguided Approach
Adopting a victim mentality doesn’t seem to be a serious solution. Fans of professional golf—the true victim in this situation—will ultimately decide between watching Bryson in Miami or Ludvig in Texas, with many likely favoring Ludvig.
Avoidance of Issues
Currently, LIV’s response to its problems has been to ignore them. The notion appears to be that by trying to affiliate with the legitimacy and popularity of the PGA Tour—which the Public Investment Fund desired from the outset—somehow validates their existence. However, the vague promise of unity has thus far been unmet.
Criticism from Players
Jon Rahm’s comments about acceptable discourse reveal a contradiction in his own statements regarding LIV. Similarly, Paul Casey’s earlier criticisms regarding hypocrisy have transformed as he switched allegiances. Kevin Na highlights that winning is paramount, implying that his time may be largely wasted. John Catlin’s insistence on meritocratic principles is belied by the reality that few actually earned their spots on LIV.
The Lacking Olive Branch
LIV Golf and its players have faced significant backlash. This raises important questions: Why change your stance after initially voicing opposition? Does immense wealth dull sensitivity to public opinion? The aggressive dismissal of valid criticisms has not endeared them to fans. Where has been the effort to extend an olive branch? When has a player expressed regret for letting fans down or attempted to address their discontent? Currently, it appears that LIV’s strategy will not find favor outside its own circle, supported mainly by those sharing its views.
