Tiger Woods’ TGL debut, LIV’s big TV deal, teen phenom: Tour Confidential

Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we review Tiger Woods’ TGL debut, dissect LIV Golf’s new TV deal, predict who will have the best season on LIV, and review Blades Brown’s pro debut.

Tiger Woods made his TGL debut on Tuesday, as his Jupiter Links team lost to Los Angeles in the second edition of the new tech-infused league. What were your thoughts on Tiger the player and Tiger the entertainer?

James Colgan, news and features editor (@jamescolgan26): I thought Tiger proved why the TGL built its business around him. He is interesting enough for the world to pay attention no matter what he’s doing. That’s insanely valuable for golf in any form, including simulator golf. 

Josh Schrock, associate news editor (@Schrock_And_Awe): There’s no question people will keep tuning in to watch Tiger mash balls into a simulator screen. We only get to see him four or five times a year otherwise. But Tiger the entertainer needs some work. His best on-mic moments can’t be him crying laughing at Kevin Kisner’s hosel rocket, and saying his mom is booing him. The league needs more from him on that end to have long-term growth.

Alan Bastable, executive editor (@alan_bastable): Dream scenario was the little-walking-required sim league bringing out the best in Tiger. That did not happen. Instead, Woods looked ordinary at best…well, as ordinary as Tiger Woods can look, anyway. His speed seemed okay, but his iron play and short game left much to be desired. Tiger doubling over in laughter after Kiz’s bunker botch was fun if only because it showed us Tiger in a state in which we rarely see him. But goes without saying TGL will need more of Woods reacting to good shots than bad ones if this thing is going to take flight.

Two weeks ago, TGL’s long-awaited debut drew 919,000 average viewers on ESPN, and Tiger’s debut last week pushed that number to over a million. Now that viewers know what TGL is (and won’t see Tiger this week), what do you expect to see from the ratings? Can TGL continue to increase viewership? How much will we learn from this coming week’s numbers?

Colgan: The biggest questions for the TGL are still ahead of them. Will people continue to care when the novelty and Tiger factors are gone? The ratings are going to be lower, but by how much? I would say anything in the 700-800K range again this week would be a win. 

Schrock: I agree, James. It wasn’t a shock that over a million people tuned in to watch the Cat walk out to “Eye of the Tiger” and goof around with Max Homa and Kevin Kisner. I expect they’ll be big numbers in two weeks when Tiger is back and faces Rory’s team. But how many people are going to watch Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay and Billy Horschel against Rickie Fowler, Cameron Young and Matt Fitzpatrick? If there’s no massive drop-off this week, then the TGL should feel good about its chances of building out some type of audience while working out the kinks.

Bastable: Hard to imagine a scenario in which this week’s numbers don’t take a hit, and not just because of Tiger’s absence. If you tuned in to the first two events, you witnessed two drama-starved blowouts and also puzzling looks from world-class players who watched seemingly well stuck wedge shots miss their marks by 10 or 15 yards. Both of those developments might give viewers pause about returning for a third straight week.

Speaking of TV viewership, LIV Golf will open the 2025 season with a long-awaited TV deal with Fox, one that ensures more than half of this season’s schedule will air live on Fox or FS1 with additional rounds available on other Fox properties. While it’s obvious that it should boost LIV viewership numbers, how much of an impact do you believe it will have in eyeballs and increased interest? A little, or a lot?

Colgan: I’d say this TV deal is Greg Norman’s legacy as LIV CEO. He convinced his pals, the Murdochs, to sign up for LIV, legitimizing the league’s TV audience for at least 2 years. But will this deal actually legitimize the league? I’m doubtful. I think most golf fans have made up their minds on LIV by now.

Schrock: Having LIV Miami air on FOX or FS1 instead of the CW and Caffeine TV is an obvious step up, but I don’t think that’s a reason to believe fans are now all of a sudden going to flock to watch LIV. After three seasons, the fans who like LIV and what it presents will watch, and everyone else will either tune into the PGA Tour or go out and play golf themselves. Having LIV air before the latest episode of “9-1-1 Lone Star” isn’t going to move the needle for most.

Bastable: Right, simply airing LIV events on network TV doesn’t solve for the league’s watchability problem. To most fans, it still will feel like so little is a stake in LIV events, because, other than wheelbarrows of cash, so little is at stake. This is all likely to change, of course — whatever PIF and the PGA Tour are cooking up is likely to give LIV contests more gravitas. And you have to figure Fox’s brass has some insight into whatever that plan might be.

Tyrrell Hatton held off Daniel Hillier to win the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday to pick up his second win in his last five starts, and he’s finished in the top 10 in all six of his starts since the 2024 LIV season ended. Is Hatton primed to have the best 2025 of any LIV Golf player? If not, who will?

Colgan: Jon Rahm! He’s officially due for a major. Also, if Bryson keeps his 2024 form, he’ll be a favorite in every major,

Schrock: I think Hatton is a sleeper major contender. He’s played well on LIV and now has won two DP World Tour events in his last handful of starts. But I think it’s going to be Rahm. He knows the narrative that’s out there after his subpar major season last year, and I think he’ll come back in a big way this year. I’d go Rahm, Bryson and then Hatton. But don’t be surprised if Hatton contends and wins at either Quail Hollow or Oakmont. 

Bastable: It’s Bryson’s world (and YouTube channel); we’re all just living in it. He has another major win in him this year, and maybe a couple. LIV should be drafting off BDC in as many ways as it can.

Seventeen-year-old Blades Brown made his professional debut at The American Express, missing the cut but impressing with a second-round 64 at the Nicklaus Tournament Course. What were your thoughts on the young phenom’s play?

Colgan: Perhaps this is redundant, but he looks so young. It reminds you he’s still many, many years from his athletic peak, and yet he’s chasing down cutlines in his PGA Tour debut. There’s a bright future ahead.

Schrock: I was just as impressed by his mental maturity and perspective as I was by his game. I think he proved he made the right decision in turning pro at 17. There’s a green arrow pointing straight up for Blades Brown. 

Bastable: There was a time, not all that long ago, when we couldn’t get over how well prepared college-aged players were for the PGA Tour; now we’re saying the same thing about high-school-aged players. Kids these days! Also, Blades Brown. What a name. He was destined for big things.

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