TV ratings boom at The Masters highlights need for PGA Tour and LIV Golf to combine
First round coverage of The Masters drew the highest number of viewers since 2015.
The need for the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to eventually come together has been made crystal clear after The Masters drew the highest number of vieweers for the opening day since 2015.
According to reports, ESPN’s Thursday coverage of The Masters drew 3.2m viewers, the highest number for opening day since 2015.
The 2024 Masters Tournament marks the first time since The Open Championship last July that all of the world's best players on both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf have competed alongside each other.
Talor Gooch will disagree with that though.
As it stands, the deadline for the ongoing framework agreement between the PGA Tour and Saudi PIF has been extended until further notice.
PIF is of course the bankroller for the PGA Tour's rival circuit, the LIV Golf League.
Tiger Woods and the rest of his PGA Tour player directors recently went to meet PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan over in the Bahamas to discuss plans for a potential partnership.
The PGA Tour recently signed a $3 billion partnership with Strategic Sports Group (SSG) to help pump even more money into tournament prize funds in 2024.
Some critics have questioned whether there is even a need for a PIF partnership following the PGA Tour's merger with SSG.
As for whether the PGA Tour and LIV Golf will ever come together in the future remains to be seen, but the latest viewing figures from Augusta National suggest there is a real desire by golf fans to see all of the world's best players competing together - just like it used to be.
LIV Golf has acquired a number of the world's best golfers from the PGA Tour, none bigger than recent new signing Jon Rahm, who is the defending champion of The Masters this week.
A total of 13 LIV Golf players competed in The Masters this week, and eight of them made the cut.
Bryson DeChambeau is leading the line for LIV so far this week by moving into a share for the 36-hole lead with PGA Tour stars Scottie Scheffler and Max Homa.
What have you made of The Masters this week? Would you like to see the PGA Tour and LIV Golf combine in the future? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.
