LIV Golf Eyes Global Prominence with Fox Sports Deal

In a significant boost to its credibility, LIV Golf has partnered with major US sports broadcaster Fox Sports in a multi-year agreement worth airing its three-round matches across several platforms.

The Saudi-backed tour, which has been gaining traction since its inception three years ago, is now set to broadcast half of its 14 matches exclusively on Fox or FS1. Select rounds will also land on FS2, the Fox Business Network, and the Fox Sports App. The partnership marks a crucial milestone in LIV Golf's growth strategy as it aims to establish itself alongside the nation's premier sports leagues and conferences.

New CEO Scott O'Neil expressed confidence with his statement: "LIV Golf is getting bigger and bolder... This agreement signals the next phase of growth."

However, experts point out that this development may have implications for the PGA Tour. With LIV Golf now airing on a more prominent platform like Fox Sports, which boasts significantly higher viewership numbers than its previous network, The CW, it could further erode support for the PGA Tour.

For context, last season's individual championship event featuring Jon Rahm drew fewer than 100,000 viewers. In comparison, average viewership during a PGA Tour event reached around 2.2 million. Given this disparity in audience size, LIV Golf's new deal with Fox Sports could contribute to a substantial increase in its exposure.

Notably, negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund have been ongoing regarding reaching a shared agreement to place both circuits under one umbrella.