Since the start of the new NFL season in early September, there has been a noticeable decline in TV viewership for golf. Historically, golf has always taken a backseat to football, but the drop in viewership in 2024 is concerning to stakeholders. The average TV audience for the entire 2024 regular PGA Tour season was 2.8 million, dropping to 2.2 million if the Major championships are excluded. This is a 20% decrease from the previous year, according to Sports Business Journal.
It is important to note that these numbers do not include streaming, which has become a popular way for fans, especially younger ones, to watch golf. Despite this, the viewership data for the first three events of the 2024 FedEx Cup Fall series is far from ideal. The Procore Championship and LIV Golf League’s Individual Championship saw significant drops in viewership compared to the previous year.
The Procore Championship’s decrease in viewership can be attributed to competing NFL games and the Solheim Cup, which captured the attention of many fans. However, women’s golf saw an increase in viewership during the Solheim Cup, with an average TV audience of 657,000 witnessing Team USA’s victory.
Following a break that included the Presidents Cup, the Sanderson Farms Championship and Black Desert Championship also saw underwhelming viewership numbers. The ongoing dispute over the direction of men’s pro golf is likely contributing to the decline in viewership, along with other factors.
Suggestions for increasing viewership include potential returns of Tiger Woods or events like The Showdown, a made-for-TV match between four top golfers. However, the PGA Tour will need to see more positive signs across the remaining FedEx Cup Fall events to improve its viewership numbers. Overall, golf is struggling to compete with football for viewership in the US, and it may require innovative solutions to attract more fans in the future.
