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

Test in each week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the most well liked matters within the sport, and be a part of the dialog by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we evaluate Tiger Woods’ TGL debut, dissect LIV Golf’s new TV deal, predict who may have the perfect season on LIV, and evaluate Blades Brown’s professional debut.

Tiger Woods made his TGL debut on Tuesday, as his Jupiter Hyperlinks staff misplaced to Los Angeles within the second version of the brand new tech-infused league. What have been your ideas on Tiger the participant and Tiger the entertainer?

James Colgan, information and options editor (@jamescolgan26): I believed Tiger proved why the TGL constructed its enterprise round him. He’s fascinating sufficient for the world to concentrate it doesn’t matter what he’s doing. That’s insanely beneficial for golf in any kind, together with simulator golf. 

Josh Schrock, affiliate information editor (@Schrock_And_Awe): There’s no query folks will hold tuning in to look at Tiger mash balls right into a simulator display screen. We solely get to see him 4 or 5 instances a 12 months in any other case. However Tiger the entertainer wants some work. His greatest on-mic moments can’t be him crying laughing at Kevin Kisner’s hosel rocket, and saying his mother is booing him. The league wants extra from him on that finish to have long-term development.

Alan Bastable, government editor (@alan_bastable): Dream state of affairs was the little-walking-required sim league bringing out the perfect in Tiger. That didn’t occur. As an alternative, Woods appeared strange at greatest…effectively, as strange as Tiger Woods can look, anyway. His pace appeared okay, however his iron play and quick recreation left a lot to be desired. Tiger doubling over in laughter after Kiz’s bunker botch was enjoyable if solely as a result of it confirmed us Tiger in a state through which we not often see him. However goes with out saying TGL will want extra of Woods reacting to good pictures than dangerous ones if this factor goes to take flight.

Two weeks in the past, TGL’s long-awaited debut drew 919,000 common viewers on ESPN, and Tiger’s debut final week pushed that quantity to over one million. Now that viewers know what TGL is (and received’t see Tiger this week), what do you count on to see from the rankings? Can TGL proceed to extend viewership? How a lot will we be taught from this coming week’s numbers?

Colgan: The largest questions for the TGL are nonetheless forward of them. Will folks proceed to care when the novelty and Tiger components are gone? The rankings are going to be decrease, however by how a lot? I’d say something within the 700-800K vary once more this week can be a win. 

Schrock: I agree, James. It wasn’t a shock that over one million folks tuned in to look at the Cat stroll out to “Eye of the Tiger” and goof round with Max Homa and Kevin Kisner. I count on they’ll be huge numbers in two weeks when Tiger is again and faces Rory’s staff. However how many individuals are going to look at Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay and Billy Horschel in opposition to Rickie Fowler, Cameron Younger and Matt Fitzpatrick? If there’s no large drop-off this week, then the TGL ought to be ok with its possibilities of constructing out some kind of viewers whereas figuring out the kinks.

Bastable: Exhausting to think about a state of affairs through which this week’s numbers don’t take a success, and never simply due to Tiger’s absence. For those who tuned in to the primary two occasions, you witnessed two drama-starved blowouts and likewise puzzling appears from world-class gamers who watched seemingly effectively caught wedge pictures miss their marks by 10 or 15 yards. Each of these developments may give viewers pause about returning for a 3rd straight week.

Talking of TV viewership, LIV Golf will open the 2025 season with a long-awaited TV cope with Fox, one which ensures greater than half of this season’s schedule will air dwell on Fox or FS1 with extra rounds obtainable on different Fox properties. Whereas it’s apparent that it ought to enhance LIV viewership numbers, how a lot of an influence do you consider it’s going to have in eyeballs and elevated curiosity? A little bit, or quite a bit?

Colgan: I’d say this TV deal is Greg Norman’s legacy as LIV CEO. He satisfied his friends, the Murdochs, to enroll in LIV, legitimizing the league’s TV viewers for not less than 2 years. However will this deal really legitimize the league? I’m uncertain. I believe most golf followers have made up their minds on LIV by now.

Schrock: Having LIV Miami air on FOX or FS1 as a substitute of the CW and Caffeine TV is an apparent step up, however I don’t assume that’s a cause to consider followers at the moment are unexpectedly going to flock to look at LIV. After three seasons, the followers who like LIV and what it presents will watch, and everybody else will both tune into the PGA Tour or exit and play golf themselves. Having LIV air earlier than the most recent episode of “9-1-1 Lone Star” isn’t going to maneuver the needle for many.

Bastable: Proper, merely airing LIV occasions on community TV doesn’t remedy for the league’s watchability drawback. To most followers, it nonetheless will really feel like so little is a stake in LIV occasions, as a result of, aside from wheelbarrows of money, so little is at stake. That is all prone to change, after all — no matter PIF and the PGA Tour are cooking up is probably going to present LIV contests extra gravitas. And you must determine Fox’s brass has some perception into no matter that plan may be.

Tyrrell Hatton held off Daniel Hillier to win the Dubai Desert Basic on Sunday to select up his second win in his final 5 begins, and he’s completed within the prime 10 in all six of his begins because the 2024 LIV season ended. Is Hatton primed to have the perfect 2025 of any LIV Golf participant? If not, who will?

Colgan: Jon Rahm! He’s formally due for a significant. Additionally, if Bryson retains his 2024 kind, he’ll be a favourite in each main,

Schrock: I believe Hatton is a sleeper main contender. He’s performed effectively on LIV and now has received two DP World Tour occasions in his final handful of begins. However I believe it’s going to be Rahm. He is aware of the narrative that’s on the market after his subpar main season final 12 months, and I believe he’ll come again in a giant approach this 12 months. I’d go Rahm, Bryson after which Hatton. However don’t be stunned if Hatton contends and wins at both Quail Hole or Oakmont. 

Bastable: It’s Bryson’s world (and YouTube channel); we’re all simply residing in it. He has one other main win in him this 12 months, and perhaps a pair. LIV must be drafting off BDC in as some ways as it might probably.

Seventeen-year-old Blades Brown made his skilled debut at The American Specific, lacking the reduce however impressing with a second-round 64 on the Nicklaus Event Course. What have been your ideas on the younger phenom’s play?

Colgan: Maybe that is redundant, however he appears so younger. It reminds you he’s nonetheless many, a few years from his athletic peak, and but he’s chasing down cutlines in his PGA Tour debut. There’s a brilliant future forward.

Schrock: I used to be simply as impressed by his psychological maturity and perspective as I used to be by his recreation. I believe he proved he made the proper choice in turning professional at 17. There’s a inexperienced arrow pointing straight up for Blades Brown. 

Bastable: There was a time, not all that way back, after we couldn’t recover from how effectively ready college-aged gamers have been for the PGA Tour; now we’re saying the identical factor about high-school-aged gamers. Youngsters as of late! Additionally, Blades Brown. What a reputation. He was destined for giant issues.

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