LIV Golf suffers yet another slump in the TV ratings as chiefs blame MARCH MADNESS

LIV Golf averaged 24% fewer viewers at its most recent event in Tucson compared to the season opener in Mexico.

The Saudi-backed circuit revealed the ‘preliminary’ data to golf.com on Friday, explaining that they are “pleased with the start” despite being significantly behind on the PGA Tour.

“I would say the launch of the first two events or the inaugural season of the league captured a significant audience,” LIV director of media Will Staeger told the outlet.

“I think overall we are pleased with the start and we have a long way to go.”

According to a LIV source quoted by Golf.com, the new league had ‘expected’ a drop due to the presence of March Madness during the broadcast of the Arizona event.

While LIV has had no problem attracting some of the best talent in the sport, its audience is unmatched by the Tour today.

In the first two weeks, the PGA Tour has had an average weekend audience of 2.42 million and 2.23 million, an average of 2.325 million overall.

Meanwhile, LIV averaged 537,000 during its coverage of its event in Mexico and 409,000 more recently, for an average of 473,000.

LIV scored just a 0.14 rating in 33 markets in the 18-49 demographic, according to kevin van valkenburg of not going to bed

That’s somehow worse than the tour’s debut on the CW network, which earned a 0.2 rating in late February.

LIV Golf reached a multi-year deal with the CW Network in January after failing to reach an agreement with ESPN, Fox Sports or any other major sports broadcaster.

Previously, the PGA’s controversial rival had been limited to YouTube streams.

LIV Golf is heavily financed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, which has committed at least $2 billion to the circuit. But while the rebel tour has garnered media attention in the form of news articles, that publicity has yet to translate into press rights or sponsorship deals.