LIV Golf star Jon Rahm might have enjoyed the most lucrative weekend of his career in Chicago but there weren’t many golf fans tuning in to watch it.
The Spaniard, who signed for the Saudi-backed tour in December for a reported £450million fee, shot a final round 66 at Bolingbrook Golf Club to not only take the tournament, but also secure the overall LIV season title as well.
It meant a £13.7m payday for the 29-year-old, and a riposte to his critics who have cited his hypocrisy after previously insisting he had no interest in turning his back on the PGA Tour.
But unlike the former world No.1 one man guaranteed not to alter his views on Greg Norman’s venture is Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee.
Chamblee has been one of LIV Golf’s most vociferous critics, previously calling the 54-hole format an “insult to the integrity of competition.” And he’s now taken aim again, slating the viewing figures for Rahm’s dramatic victory.
According to Sports Business Journal, there were 89,000 viewers on America’s CW Network for Sunday’s final round, with 134,000 watching on Saturday. A further 145,000 people have since watched footage of Sunday’s coverage on YouTube.
The viewership was seemingly diluted by the final day of the Irish Open, which boasted its own share of excitement as Rasmus Hojgaard edged Rory McIlroy to the title. There was also a thrilling finale to the Solheim Cup, with Team USA holding off Team Europe’s fightback.
And Chamblee wasn’t about to let the statistics pass him by. “Despite billions of dollars for golf megastars, LIV remains in the witness protection program of sports viewership,” he wrote.
“Partly because they are trying to ‘scale’ the county-fair motleyness of the 16th hole at the WM Phoenix Open and the Seve-like passion of the Ryder Cup. They fail, not least for the lack of innovation of their ideas but also for the origin of their investment.”
His latest criticism comes just a month after Chamblee, 62, was scathing about the performances of LIV players in major events this year. “With the exception of DeChambeau,” he said. “Not one LIV player managed a top-five in a major in 2024.
"Bryson is without a doubt one of the most compelling figures in the game and his newfound engagement with the fans was a highlight of the major season but on the whole LIV players were a huge disappointment in the 2024 majors. It’s safe to say that LIV golf has been detrimental to the competitiveness of their careers.”
Chamblee has conceded that a merger between the PGA Tour and LIV does now need to be finalised for the benefit of the game. However, talks are seemingly dragging, with Rory McIlroy one star to admit the top players are in the dark over what’s being discussed.