Category: Golf on TV

Tiger vs Messi and the World Cup — Padraig Harrington says Woods might win the TV ratings

“I think Tiger might win over on the TV ratings to the World Cup. That’s the difference he’s made to golf.”

ORLANDO – On Sunday, the World Cup final pitting Argentina against France will be the main event in the world of sports. Or will it? Padraig Harrington, for one, thinks Tiger Woods playing with son Charlie in the final round of the PNC Championship could steal its thunder.

“I’m so disappointed that the World Cup Final is on 9 o’clock on Sunday morning. I believe it’s 9 o’clock Eastern Time,” he said. Actually, the pre-game show starts at 9 and the game begins at 10 ET. “I really wanted it to be on mid-afternoon at 3 o’clock going up against the PNC Championship because I think Tiger might win over on the TV ratings to the World Cup. That’s the difference he’s made to golf.”

Tiger is the needle in golf and his very presence guarantees a strong TV rating for this week’s Silly Season event, which will be broadcast on NBC/Golf Channel/Peacock. Add in the fact that he’s played only nine competitive rounds and there’s pent-up demand to see Tiger, not to mention Charlie, who shot 67 in a junior tournament not long ago. Team Woods finished second last year behind John Daly and his son and could be a force to be reckoned with at this tournament for years to come. Harrington pointed out that Tiger’s various comeback tours have captivated golf fans like never before.

“It’s bigger than it was when he was in his heyday. So back in 2000s, 2005, whatever, big star, unbelievable, huge crowds, great vibe. But when he came back in like (2018), I’m trying to think when he came back to Valspar (in Tampa) that time, there was definitely a different feeling. There was people coming out, grandparents coming out because they’d seen Tiger. Their children. And then the young kids were being brought out for a once-in-a-lifetime, maybe you’ll never see him again,” Harrington explained.

“There really was a different atmosphere to a Tiger event. It is incredible that you think he could – he actually got – like you can tell now, like you can definitely tell where he is on the golf course. Everything about Tiger on the golf course, it is a different vibe than it was. It was big back then, but I don’t know, there’s an emotion to the crowd. They’re not just excited about the great shots, which is I think what they would have been 15 years ago, there’s a genuine emotion about they want to see him, they love him. They love the whole thing, the atmosphere.”

In other words, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are lucky they aren’t going head-to-head with Tiger and Charlie. They might not stand a chance.

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An undercard? New locations? Phil Mickelson’s involvement? What the future of The Match could look like from the man behind the curtain

“Certainly looking to expand, just don’t know where that’s going to be yet.”

The Match VII is set to be the biggest yet — with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy taking on Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth. We’re not sure it gets any better than that.

On Saturday, the four superstars will tee it up at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, for a 12-hole exhibition under the lights. Woods, who hasn’t played on the national stage since St. Andrews, withdrew from the Hero World Challenge last week due to plantar fasciitis. During a Zoom call with the media earlier this week, Woods confirmed he’s good to go.

Bryan Zuriff, who has an extensive background in Hollywood which includes executive producing the hit TV show “Ray Donovan” and movies like “War Dogs,” recently sat down with Golfweek to discuss what the future of the event could look like.

The Match: How to watch, format

When this edition was announced, Golf Channel’s Shane Bacon suggested the possibility of an undercard.

It makes sense and would be an incredible way to grow all branches of the sport, but is it doable?

“Everything’s a consideration, but then it comes down to budget and price,” Zuriff said. “Everything sounds good until you put it on paper and look at what you get for that. It’s hard enough to do what we’re doing for the four people that we’re concentrating on, if we start adding other gimmicks that sound good in the press, but they’re not necessarily the easiest to execute on and I just want to execute a great product.

“Certainly looking to expand, just don’t know where that’s going to be yet.”

During the six previous installments, The Match has been held in Las Vegas, Florida, Arizona, and Big Sky, Montana. When asked if there are any other bucket-list locations on tap, Zuriff said it’s tough to beat Vegas.

“I still like the Wynn, I just love the Wynn,” he said with a smile. “I like how easy it is there from a production standpoint. I like the background of the strip with the golfers in the summer. But we’re open. I’d go anywhere. It’s all about producing and cost … are stars going to want to go there?

“It gets complicated when you get into the weeds of the details.”

In an interview with Golf.com, Zuriff spoke on Phil Mickelson’s future with his program (Mickelson participated in the first four installments).

“I love Phil and he’s been an incredible part of this. But he knows, you know,” Zuriff said. “He went where he went, and we’re connected with the PGA Tour. So I mean, this is a PGA Tour event … But that’s a choice that he made. He understands that when you make those choices, certain things get sacrificed. And this is one of the things that got sacrificed.”

Regarding Woods’ involvement this time around, Zuriff thinks the environment will be the perfect place for the 15-time major champion to make his return.

“I think the setting is really good for him — 12 holes, golf cart, he can just make some really cool shots. It’s been a really interesting year in golf so you’re going to get some really cool perspectives between Charley Barkley and him and our other golfers. I think there’s a lot to chew in this match.”

If you’re interested in watching The Match VII, coverage begins at 6 p.m. ET Saturday with “The Conversation,” a 30-minute roundtable discussion with the four participants hosted by Brian Anderson.

TNT officials have said that “no topic will be off-limits.”

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How to watch The Match: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy battle Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas

For the first time since July, golf fans will get to watch Tiger Woods in action on the golf course.

It’s back. And he’s back.

Capital One’s The Match returns for a seventh rendition Saturday but perhaps the real headline here is golf fans get to see Tiger Woods tee it up once again.

Originally set to play the Hero World Challenge last week, Woods was a late scratch which then sent everyone scrambling to Google plantar faciitis. He was last seen on the golf course at the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews in July.

Woods is raring to go and will be wearing a mic when he teams up with Rory McIlroy to take on the duo of Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth in a 12-hole contest under the lights at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, site of the LPGA’s Pelican Women’s Championship.

“I’m sure it will be very entertaining,” Thomas said ahead of the Hero last week. “It’s just going to be fun for us. Even if it wasn’t an event on TV, us four would have a blast going out and playing 12 holes together let alone under the lights to what sounds like a really cool golf course. So yeah, it will be a blast.”

This will be the third Match appearance for Woods but the first for the other three. This will also be the third time The Match won’t have a celebrity golfer. In previous editions, Charles Barkley, Steph Curry, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen made appearances.

How to watch

The main coverage will be on TNT but there will also be a simulcast on TBS, truTV and HLN. Bleacher Report will have additional coverage on its social channels before they tee off as well as during the competition.

Brian Anderson will be the host with Charles Barkley and Trevor Immelman working as analysts. Kathryn Tappen will be the on-course reporter.

Starting at 6 p.m. ET is “The Conversation,” a 30-minute roundtable discussion with the four participants hosted by Anderson. TNT says “no topic will be off limits.”

Capital One’s The Match Pre-Match Show will then come on at 6:30 p.m. ET.

The format

The format is best ball, with each player playing his own ball throughout the round. The lowest individual score on each hole will be the team score. The competition is scheduled for 12 holes. Saturday’s high temperature in Belleair is expected to be 73 degrees and there’s just a 10 percent chance of rain.

The money

The challenge holes will have prizes of $750,000 up to $2.5 million which will go to different charities. Capital One’s The Match has raised more than $33 million for charitable organizations since its 2018 debut. Some of the money raised this year will go towards Hurricane Ian relief efforts.

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Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas all too chummy ahead of The Match

A call with all four players created more of a meeting of a mutual admiration society — with a few subtle digs.

Hopefully, The Match itself is better than the pre-tournament press conference.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are set to take on Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas on Saturday evening under the lights at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. On Wednesday, a Zoom call with all four players failed to create the hype often associated with a boxing match; this was more of a meeting of a mutual admiration society — with a few subtle digs.

“If you told myself and JT in 2012 when we were in college that we’d be playing against these two in a match, that would be a really, really cool thing,” Spieth said. “We want to win it because of how much these guys inspired us.”

If you wanted trash talk and bulletin-board material ahead of the 12-hole match, it was sorely lacking from this gabfest. When asked to name the best trash talker of the bunch, McIlroy jumped in and said, “I know who thinks he is the best trash talker, JT.”

That may be the case, but Thomas has done battle with Tiger enough to know that he and Spieth are at a significant disadvantage against Woods and McIlroy in terms of on-course achievements.

“It’s kind of hard to trash talk them,” Thomas said. “I feel like on the first tee Jordan and I just need to get it out in the open that, OK, you guys have more majors than us, you have more FedEx Cups than us, you both have an airplane and we don’t, let’s just get that out in the open that way we don’t get it used against us in our match.”

“They’re both quick and witty,” Spieth added. “I was saying to Justin that we might have to take the nice guy route, which isn’t normal for us in these type of matches.”

“Either way, it won’t work,” Woods piped in.

Tiger expressed confidence that despite suffering from plantar fasciitis, which forced him to withdraw from last week’s Hero World Challenge, he’ll be ready to go on Saturday thanks to having a golf cart at his disposal.

“It will help a lot. I can hit golf balls, it’s just hard getting from Point A to Point B,” said Woods, who is making his third appearance in The Match in what will be the seventh edition of the charity event.

While Thomas and Spieth have been a dynamic duo for Team USA in Ryder and Presidents Cups, McIlroy said he and Woods have never been partners, not even when practicing at home in Florida.

“I’ve been on the wrong side of them in the Ryder Cup before I’m trying to get one back on them,” McIlroy said. “I couldn’t ask for a better partner. The partner I had against them previously doesn’t quite compare to the one I’ll have on Saturday night.”

“I think we’re the underdogs, that’s the mentality we’re going to take,” Spieth said.

That’s when McIlroy interrupted. “I thought I saw the betting line, I thought I saw you’re the favorites,” he said.

“Oh, yeah, sharks know what they’re doing, I guess,” Thomas added.

2022 Presidents Cup
Justin Thomas of the United States Team and Jordan Spieth of the United States Team talk on the range prior to the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Country Club on September 19, 2022, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Fortunately, Charles Barkley returns to the broadcast to add some spice and keep the players on their toes — and hopefully draw out some good barbs between a foursome of competitors that are just a bit too chummy. Tiger noted that in previous years Barkley has had a tendency to speak directly into their earpieces while a player is mid-swing.

“Charles was saying something probably very inappropriate for most of the viewers but it’s going directly into our ear and we can’t respond to him,” Tiger said. “The chatter is good but it’s not quite the chatter we’d normally have amongst ourselves. In this day and age, there are certain words you can’t use. As most of these guys know, my vocabulary is very limited in that regard. Certain words are verbs, nouns and adjectives … and I use the same words for all of them.”

Perhaps the funniest moment of the press conference happened after Tiger buttered up his partner, and said, “He’s going to have the best cheerleader he’s ever had.”

“Maybe not the prettiest,” McIlroy said.

Tiger took offense. “Hey, you’re on my team, dude!” he said.

More cheap shots – and great golf shots – on Saturday night, please.

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Smylie Kaufman, Brad Faxon to join NBC Sports/Golf Channel in 2023; Curt Byrum gets David Feherty’s seat

Golfweek has learned from multiple sources that Brad Faxon and Smylie Kaufman will join NBC Sports and Golf Channel.

Golfweek has learned from multiple sources that Brad Faxon and Smylie Kaufman will join the NBC Sports and Golf Channel announce team beginning in 2023.

Golfweek was first to report that Gary Koch, 69, and Roger Maltbie, 71, wouldn’t be returning for next season. The network told Maltbie and Koch the decision was made to “refresh” the team for the future.

Faxon, 61, won eight times on the PGA Tour and twice on the PGA Tour Champions and is renowned for his putting stroke. He still works with Rory McIlroy as a putting coach. He broke into the TV business in 2010 with NBC Sports, doing seven events before shifting to competing on the senior tour when he turned 50.

He was the lead golf analyst for Fox Sports for five years when the network held the rights to USGA events including the U.S. Open. Since NBC reacquired those package of events, Faxon has provided analysis for Sky Sports, the subscription-based channel in the United Kingdom and Ireland, which along with NBC and Golf Channel are owned by Comcast.

Faxon is expected to take over one of the tower assignments and will contribute to various ancillary programming such as the popular “Live From” show at majors. Faxon declined to comment.

Rory McIlroy, Brad Faxon
Rory McIlroy and Brad Faxon at a practice round ahead of the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links. (Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images)

Kaufman, 31, played at LSU and won the PGA Tour’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in 2015 and played in the final group of the 2016 Masters, but has struggled with his game in recent years and no longer is an exempt player. He worked for ESPN and contributed to coverage of the PGA Championship and NBC’s Peacock coverage of the U.S. Open, as well as the U.S. Junior and a handful of fall events for the Golf Channel.

Kaufman is expected to be an on-course analyst and viewed as a direct response to CBS’s hiring of Colt Knost, who went from a part-time role last year to a full-time gig this season.

Former Golf Channel host Gary Williams said of Kaufman on his podcast “5 Clubs,” that Kaufman has a savant-like ability to talk like himself and give a thought in 12 seconds.

“Is it my path forever? I don’t know,” Kaufman told Williams of doing TV. “But for right now it seems to be what I enjoy doing. We’ll see. I think right now it seems to be the way I’m headed.”

Kaufman didn’t respond to phone or text messages.

Golfweek has also learned that Curt Byrum is in line to be elevated to the top PGA Tour team and work in the “super tower,” assuming the spot of David Feherty, who left to join LIV Golf in late July, and that Justin Leonard will scale back his TV role as he focuses full time on the senior circuit.

Byrum, 63, won the 1989 Hardee’s Classic on the PGA Tour, and has served as an analyst with Golf Channel since 2001. When Golf Channel and NBC merged, Byrum was the one Golf Channel analyst to be bumped immediately up to NBC.

“He’s both underrated and underappreciated,” said one NBC Sports veteran, who was not at liberty to speak on the hirings because details still were being finalized.

When reached on the phone, Byrum said that his current contract expires in December and he’s “thrown his hat in the ring but nothing confirmed as of yet.”

Leonard, 50, has spent the last few years as an analyst and contributor to “Live From.” But the former British Open champion, who last played as many as 13 Tour events in 2015-16, has made the decision to play full-time on the Champions Tour. Last year, he played his PGA Tour swansong at the Valero Texas Open and made four starts on the Champions Tour after turning 50, with a best result of T-14 at Furyk & Friends. Leonard may make a few cameo appearances with NBC, such as at the Ryder Cup. Notah Begay III, who also turned 50 earlier this year and played twice on the Champions Tour, is expected to build his playing schedule around his TV role.

An NBC Sports spokesman responded by saying, “We’re focused on celebrating Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch at the PNC Championship later this month and will be announcing any additional changes to our lineup early in the new year.”

NBC is expected to announce the hirings shortly, but may wait until after the PNC Championship, which ends Dec. 18, out of respect for Koch, who will be doing his last event.

NBC is following in the footsteps of CBS, which in late 2019 cut ties with Peter Kostis and Gary McCord as part of a youth movement in its announcing crew. Nick Faldo, 65, retired in August and The Eye promoted Trevor Immelman, who turns 43 on Dec. 16, to the top analyst position next to Jim Nantz.

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Roger Maltbie, Gary Koch won’t return to NBC golf broadcasts in 2023 as network looks to ‘refresh’ its team

Maltbie has covered golf for NBC Sports since 1992. Koch joined full-time in 1997.

It’s the end of an era for NBC and Golf Channel.

Golfweek has confirmed that both Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch won’t be returning to broadcasts in 2023. The network told Maltbie and Koch the decision was made to “refresh” the team for the future.

“Roger and Gary have been synonymous with NBC Sports’ golf coverage for decades, having educated and entertained multiple generations of viewers and having made some of the most memorable calls in the history of the game,” said Golf Channel Executive Producer Molly Solomon via a statement to Golfweek. “Their professionalism and prowess is only exceeded by their character as they have been great teammates and friends to so many of us here. We will be honoring their careers during our coverage of the PNC Championship in December.”

Maltbie was originally told 2021 would be his last year before Jim “Bones” Mackay left his on-air role with the network to caddie for Justin Thomas. He returned as an on-course reporter for 2022 but wasn’t renewed for 2023. A five-time winner on the PGA Tour, Maltbie, 71, had been covering golf for NBC Sports since 1992.

Koch, 69, joined NBC Sports full-time in 1997 after he debuted as a course reporter at the 1996 Players Championship and U.S. Open. The six-time winner on Tour was an analyst in the tower for the network’s PGA Tour and major championship coverage.

Not only did they work together on-air, but the pair also teamed up to win the PGA Tour Champions’ Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf three times in the Raphael Division in 2003, 2008 and 2009.

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John Wood Q&A: On watching wolves, his Olympic medallion, and rolling back the ball

John Wood is a lone wolf out on Tour in his main addiction these days — which is wolf watching.

John Wood was managing a bookstore in Sacramento when PGA Tour pro Kevin Sutherland asked him if he’d like to caddie for him during the 1997 season. Wood figured why not give it a try for a year or two?

Fast-forward 26 years later and he’s still part of the traveling circus, having made a seamless transition from caddie to on-course commentator.

“I’ve avoided getting a real job my entire life,” he says.

Wood always has stood out for his ability to communicate his thoughts about a golf course and the inner workings of a caddie-player relationship, including a stint as a Golfweek contributor.

“A good caddie has the answers to 10 questions that never get asked,” says the 53-year-old Wood, who caddied in 14 Cups – seven each of the Presidents and Ryder Cups and was an assistant at the 2018 Ryder Cup.

He has been on a winner’s bag 10 times at PGA Tour events, working primarily for Sutherland, Hunter Mahan and Matt Kuchar. (He came out of retirement for a one-week gig at the Fortinet Championship in September for Stewart Cink.) He joined NBC/Golf Channel in 2021, saying, “It was time for a new challenge,” and bringing a refreshing new voice and insight to the network’s coverage.

But it’s his off-course hobbies that may be the most interesting part of this Q&A. Wood is a music buff, who travels the Tour with a guitar, released his own album on SoundCloud and dragged his parents to an Elvis Presley concert in Tacoma, Washington, at age 7.

He’s also a passionate San Francisco Giants fan, but there are plenty of golfers and caddies who still rep the team that they grew up supporting. Wood is a lone wolf out on Tour in his main addiction these days, which is wolf watching. Wood makes frequent trips to Yellowstone to watch the wolves.

“Sometimes you see 50 wolves in a day and one is taking down an elk and other days you might see two or three jumping out of a bush, you never know,” he says. “I kind of feel like that’s my tribe now. I’ve become part of the community.”

Here’s more from Wood on the heartache of the 2017 British Open, why he thinks it’s time to roll back the ball, and more on wolf watching.

Charles Barkley, months after flirting with LIV Golf, agrees to mega-deal with TNT

“I’m blessed to be able to do live television for a living.”

Charles Barkley has a new contract with TNT that a report says will pay him well north of $100 million, and possibly as much as $200 million, over 10 years.

Barkley, 59, had discussions with the LIV Golf Series back in July but told Golfweek at the event in Bedminster, New Jersey, that “they haven’t offered me anything.”

He added: “My number one priority is Turner, and I’m not gonna keep Turner in limbo. So that’s my priority. They’ve given me everything I have.”

Barkley’s mega-deal was reported by the New York Post, which noted that he’s currently making about $10 million a year.

It was at the pro-am event in New Jersey in July that he played some golf but also talked contract terms with LIV.

“I’ve got friends on both tours, it was great to see some of my friends I haven’t seen in a minute like Brooks [Koepka], Bryson [DeChambeau], Pat Perez, I wish these guys great success,” Barkley explained. “I’m gonna support LIV. I’m gonna support the PGA Tour.”

The Post reports that when Barkley was talking with LIV, he had not yet started negotiations with Turner, who has Shaquille O’Neal on a long-term deal and announced the re-signings of studio host Ernie Johnson and analyst Kenny Smith this week.

“We’re all a big family — Ernie, Kenny and Shaquille are brothers to me — and I wouldn’t still be here if it wasn’t for them and all the amazing people who work on our show,” Barkley told the Post. “I’m not gonna lie, though, this is a life-altering deal … and I’m blessed to be able to do live television for a living.”

Golfweek’s Adam Woodard contributed to this article.

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Will pay-to-play TV deal make Saudi Arabian-backed LIV Golf more accessible and acceptable for fans?

We live in a world of televised sports, almost to the point of a sport not existing if it is not on television.

Chances are the only people who give much thought about the LPGA having to pay for television time are hard-core LPGA supporters who want television networks to pay the LPGA for broadcast rights.

Most fans just turn on the television set and watch the women play, not giving a thought to the fact they are watching a time buy event. It is up to the LPGA to make money from commercials they sell and sponsors they find. That’s not true of all LPGA events and the number of time buys gets a little smaller every year, but that is how the LPGA has been seen on television for years and years.

Which brings us to the story that the LIV tour, the rival Saudi Arabian-backed tour that is battling the PGA Tour is apparently ready to strike a deal to buy time on Fox Sports 1 to show LIV events.

The LIV has been without a television partner since its debut event in June, but that might be changing through a time buy. Several reports, including Golfweek, say LIV is close to a deal with Fox Sports 1 to buy time to broadcast its events. For its part, the LIV has said the reports are inaccurate, but it is clear something is brewing that would put the pro golf circuit on television screens.

LIV has faced many questions as a startup sports organization, from concerns about the Saudi Arabian regime to where the money comes from to how legitimate the limited-field, 54-hole, no-cut format is compared to the PGA Tour or DP World Tour. But a big issue has been that LIV golf is not seen on television. It is instead streamed over YouTube, and the overall numbers for that streaming have been pretty low.

We live in a world of televised sports, almost to the point of a sport not existing if it is not on television. One of LIV’s television problems is that the usual sources for golf in this country such as NBC, CBS, ESPN/ABC and Golf Channel all have strong connections with the PGA Tour and affiliated organizations. So they weren’t going to work deals with LIV.

2022 LIV Golf Boston
Dustin Johnson celebrates after putting to win the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Boston after a final round playoff hole of the LIV Golf tournament at The International. (Photo: Richard Cashin/USA TODAY Sports)

Fox Sports wants more golf?

Fox Sports had a 10-year deal with the United States Golf Association to broadcast USGA events including the U.S. Open and the U.S. Women’s Open. But Fox Sports walked away from that deal, meaning it has no golf coverage. That made it the logical choice for LIV to consider. Still, it is reasonable to wonder why, with the LIV backers spending so much money on player contracts and purses for events, the tour hasn’t previously found a way to get on television. There are plenty of television options in this country, and many if not most of them would be interested in the money rather than any controversy LIV might bring.

Again, a time buy is basically just that, an organization buying a block of time on a network, say two or three hours. The organization then has the right to fill that block of time – within reason of course – with its own programming. The organization generally makes its money back by selling advertising during the period. A time buy gets a golf event on the air, but it also causes some problems if the golf goes beyond the time bought. That’s why you often see LPGA events cut off when there is still golf being played.

The networks pay the PGA Tour to broadcast its events, so golf can run beyond the end of a time period. That money from television is also one of the reasons LPGA purses lag behind PGA Tour purses.

Being on television won’t solve all of the problems that some people have with the LIV tour. Some fans will simply refuse to watch. But it will give fans who want to watch a chance to remember that Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson do still play golf for money. Television will give LIV the look and the feel of professional golf while also giving fans a chance to see what LIV believes is truly different about its tour.

Questions and lawsuits will remain, but a move to television will be important for LIV when it happens.

Larry Bohannan is The Desert Sun golf writer. He can be reached at larry.bohannan@desertsun.com or (760) 778-4633. Follow him on Facebook or on Twitter at @larry_bohannan.

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Sources: LIV Golf nearing deal to buy time on Fox Sports to air its tournaments

Two weeks ago, Greg Norman said he was fielding intense interest from media companies eager to broadcast LIV tournaments.

LIV Golf is nearing a deal to purchase air time for its tournaments on U.S. cable television, multiple sources have told Golfweek. The potential agreement — which is still being finalized — is with Fox Sports 1.

While media companies typically pay sports leagues a substantial rights fee to air their products, the deal would not see LIV receive payment, said a source familiar with the discussions. Instead, LIV — which is controversially financed by the Saudi Arabian regime’s Public Investment Fund — would buy time on the cable channel to air its events, a move that will be widely interpreted as a failure to attract serious commercial interest in what it is offering.

Just two weeks ago, the CEO of LIV, Greg Norman, said he was fielding intense interest from media companies eager to broadcast LIV tournaments.

“We’re talking to four different networks, and live conversations where offers are being put on the table,” he told ESPN. “They can see what we’re delivering.”

A well-placed industry executive says LIV struck out with approaches to multiple broadcasters, including NBC, CBS, Disney, Apple and Amazon, and that Fox Sports got involved only at the behest of Lachlan Murdoch, the executive chairman and CEO of Fox Corp. Last month, Sports Business Journal reported that Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of Donald Trump, had been calling broadcasters trying to generate interest in a LIV television package. In 2021, Kushner’s private equity firm, Affinity Partners, secured $2 billion in funding from the Saudi Public Investment Fund.

“There were people at Fox who wanted nothing to do with this,” the source said. “They were forced to do it.”

LIV requested a rights fee for year two of any deal and a guaranteed time slot on network television but both proposals were rejected by Fox, according to a source familiar with the specifics of the conversations. It is believed Fox has offered to re-evaluate network placement at a later date. LIV will also be responsible for the production of its tournament broadcasts and for selling commercial sponsorships during its time slots, two tasks that would usually fall to a broadcast partner.

“Any advertiser who touches this will get blasted,” a longtime sports TV executive said. “It’s a weak product but it’s a tainted product on top of that.”

LIV has been widely criticized as a sportswashing effort by the Saudi regime to distract attention from its poor human rights record. A LIV tournament staged this summer at Trump Bedminster in New Jersey drew protests from the families of September 11 victims, who point to Saudi involvement in the terrorist attacks.

Sources say the LIV-Fox deal is nearing completion but has not yet been formally inked, and it remains unclear if it will take effect in 2023 or earlier. LIV has three remaining events scheduled in 2022. All will be played next month, in Bangkok, Thailand; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and at Trump Doral in Miami.

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