LIV Golf gets catastrophic 0.2 television rating on Saturday in its first competition of the year

Did you notice that the first LIV Golf event of the 2023 season was broadcast on TV this weekend? Looks like no one else did either.

The first competition of the year in Mexico earned a catastrophic 0.2 rating on the CW network on Saturday night, indicating that 0.2 percent of surveyed households tuned in to watch the competition.

And surprisingly, according to Golf Digest, World’s Funniest Animals on the CW drew in more viewers than LIV could. The TV deal was thought to be a watershed moment for LIV, which did not have one for its inaugural 2022 season.

By comparison, the recent Genesis Open drew a 1.8 rating in its third round, but it’s fair to say that Tiger Woods made his long-awaited return at that event.

Qualifications for this weekend’s PGA side event, the Honda Classic, are not yet available for comparison.

LIV Golf’s first tournament of the year did not fare well on TV over the weekend

On Sunday, world number 312 Charles Howell won the LIV event in Mexico: a flawless third and final round of 63 propelled him to victory and a $4 million prize for finishing in first place.

It was a larger one-time prize money than he had won in any of his previous 23 PGA Tour seasons.

The American will also share a separate $3 million team prize with his Crushers GC teammates.

“It’s great that we got the team win,” Howell said in a televised interview after the round. “I’ve played here many times before and had an idea of ​​what to expect going in.

‘But around this place, man, there are double ghosts everywhere, so you never know.’

To be fair, the Honda Classic wasn’t the best announcement the PGA Tour has had.

Chris Kirk beat Eric Cole in a tiebreaker at Flordia, with Tyler Duncan third and Ryan Gerard finishing fourth.

The next LIV event will take place March 17-19 in Tuscon at the Gallery Golf Club.

On Sunday, world number 312 Charles Howell won the LIV event in Mexico for $4 million.