Tiger Woods’ TGL debut, LIV’s biggest TV deal, youth event: Tour Confidential

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

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

James Colgan, news and features editor (@jamescolgan26): I thought Tiger proved why TGL built its business around him. You are interesting enough to get the world’s attention no matter what you do. That’s incredibly important in any form of golf, including simulated golf.

Josh Schrock, news editor (@Schrock_And_Awe): There is no question that people will continue to tune in to watch Tiger’s ball rolling across the screen. We get to see him four or five times a year otherwise. But Tiger entertainer needs some work. His best moments on the mic aren’t when he’s crying laughing at Kevin Kisner’s hosel rocket, and saying that his mom is screwing him up. The league needs more of him then to have long-term growth.

Alan Bastable, senior editor (@alan_bastable): The dream scenario was a slow moving sim league that brought out the best in Tiger. That didn’t happen. Instead, Woods looked pretty normal…well, as normal as Tiger Woods can look, anyway. His speed seemed fine, but his instrumental playing and short game left a lot to be desired. Tiger doubling over in laughter after Kiz’s bunker botch was fun if only to show Tiger in a state we don’t often see him in. But it goes without saying that TGL will need more of Woods reacting to good shots than bad if this thing is going to fly.

Two weeks ago, the highly anticipated TGL drew an average of 919,000 viewers on ESPN, and last week’s Tiger premiere pushed that number over a million. Now that viewers know what TGL is (and won’t see Tiger this week), what do you expect to see in the ratings? Can TGL continue to increase viewership? How much will we learn from next week’s math?

Colgan: Big questions for TGL still lie ahead. Will people continue to care when the novelty and Tiger are gone? Ratings will drop, but by how much? I would say anything in the 700-800K range and this week would be a win.

Scrock: I agree, James. It was no surprise that over a million people tuned in to watch the cat belt out “Eye of the Tiger” and hang out with Max Homa and Kevin Kisner. I expect they will be in big numbers in two weeks when Tiger is back and facing Rory’s team. But how many people will watch Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay and Billy Horschel against Rickie Fowler, Cameron Young and Matt Fitzpatrick? If there aren’t any big releases this week, TGL should feel good about its chances of building some kind of audience while working out the kinks.

Bastable: It’s hard to imagine a scenario where this week’s numbers don’t fall flat, and not just because of Tiger’s absence. If you’ve watched the first two events, you’ve seen both the fury of the game and the bewildered looks from world-class players watching well-shot shots miss their marks by 10 or 15 yards. Both of those improvements could give viewers a chance to come back for a third week in a row.

Speaking of TV viewing, LIV Golf will open the 2025 season with a long-awaited TV deal with Fox, which ensures that more than half of this season’s programming will be broadcast live on Fox or FS1 with additional rounds available on other properties. Fox. While it should obviously increase LIV’s viewership numbers, how much of an impact do you believe it will have on eyeballs and growing interest? A little, or a lot?

Colgan: I would say this TV contract is Greg Norman’s legacy as CEO of LIV. He convinced his friends, the Murdochs, to sign up for LIV, which guarantees the league’s TV audience for at least 2 years. But is this agreement in fact make it legal the league? I doubt it. I think most golf fans have made up their minds about LIV by now.

Scrock: Having LIV Miami air on FOX or FS1 instead of The CW and Caffeine TV is an obvious move, but I don’t think that’s a reason to believe that fans will now suddenly flock to watch LIV. After three seasons, fans who love LIV and what it stands for will be watching it, and everyone will be singing the PGA Tour or going out to play golf. Having LIV air before the latest episode of “9-1-1 Lone Star” will not move the needle for many.

Bastable: Of course, simply broadcasting LIV events on a TV network does not solve the league’s viewership problem. For many fans, it will still feel like there’s very little input into LIV events, because, aside from the buckets of cash, there’s very little. is something in danger. All of this is subject to change, of course – whatever the PIF and PGA Tour cook up is likely to give LIV tournaments more power. And you should find that Fox brass has some insight into any of those programs.

Tyrrell Hatton held off Daniel Hillier to win the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday for his second win in his last five starts, and has finished in the top 10 in all six of his starts since the end of the 2024 LIV season. Has Hatton been honored to have the best 2025 of any LIV Golf player? If not, who will?

Colgan: Jon Rahm! He is officially expected to get a major. And, if Bryson maintains his 2024 form, he’ll be the favorite in every major,

Scrock: I think Hatton is a big sleeper contender. He played well at LIV and has now won two DP World Tour events in his few starts. But I think it will be Rahm. He can relate to what is behind his big season last year, and I think he will come back in a big way this year. I’ll go Rahm, Bryson and Hatton. But don’t be surprised if Hatton competes and wins at Quail Hollow or Oakmont.

Bastable: Bryson’s Country (and YouTube channel); we all just live in it. He has another big win for him this year, and maybe a couple. LIV should write BDC in as many ways as possible.

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

Colgan: Maybe this isn’t necessary, but you’re looking so the new ones. It reminds you that he is many, many years away from his prime, and yet he chased the cut lines in his PGA Tour debut. There is a bright future ahead.

Scrock: I was as impressed with his intellectual maturity and vision as I was with his game. I think he proved that he made the right decision by changing his profession at the age of 17. There is a green arrow pointing up at Blades Brown.

Bastable: There was a time, not so long ago, when we couldn’t get over how well-prepared college-aged players were for the PGA Tour; now we say the same about high school players. Kids these days! And, Blades Brown. What is the name. He was destined for great things.

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