Rory McIlroy, citing ratings dip, says deal should ‘speed up’،
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – As television ratings have fallen so far this season, four-time major champion Rory McIlroy said Wednesday he wants the “train to speed up” on the PGA Tour finalizing a deal with the Fund public investment project from Saudi Arabia to reunify men's professional golf.
“These larger events that we tried to create worked last year,” McIlroy said at TPC Sawgrass, the site of this week's 50th Players Championship. “The ratings were up, and that was great. But if you look at the ratings for these events in the United States this year, everything is down.
TV ratings for the final round of last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Fla., where world number one golfer Scottie Scheffler escaped with a 5-shot victory, were down 30, according to published reports. % compared to the final round in 2023. TV ratings for coverage of the final round of the Genesis Invitational on February 18 – when 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama returned to the winner's circle – were down about 5%.
The PGA Tour has created eight flagship events, with purses of at least $20 million and smaller fields to bring together its top golfers more often. The other four marquee events are the RBC Heritage, Wells Fargo Championship, Memorial Tournament and Travelers Championship.
“For whatever reason, [the signature events] don't really capture the imagination this year compared to last year,” McIlroy said.
Sports Business Journal reported that amateur Nick Dunlap's improbable victory at the American Express in January was the only PGA Tour event this season to increase viewership compared to 2023.
“It’s kind of the same across the board with some of these bigger events,” McIlroy said. “I think the fans are tired of it, and I think the more we go down this route, the more people are going to tune in four times a year. [for the major championships], which is not good for anyone – nor good for golf. This just can't happen, so we have to figure it out. »
On Tuesday, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan told reporters that he and his partners at Strategic Sports Group met with PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan in Saudi Arabia in January and that discussions with the PIF were ” accelerated. The PIF funds the rival LIV Golf League, which has signed several major PGA Tour players, including reigning major championship winners Jon Rahm (Masters) and Brooks Koepka (PGA Championship).
McIlroy believes the sport's reputation will continue to suffer as long as the world's best players continue to compete on different circuits.
“You fight for so long and then you get tired and tired of it,” McIlroy said. “I think we're all tired of fighting at this point. That's why I've been so adamant that we have to find a way to unify the game, bring everyone together and move forward. “It's easier said than done, but I think it would be best for all of us.”
