Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

Most people think LIV is good for golf: Survey

New survey reveals perceptions of LIV Golf are improving

By
Nike Air Zoom close-up
Nike Golf

Since its inception, LIV Golf’s emergence as a competitor of the PGA Tour has been a highly debated topic in the golfing community. With the LIV tour backed by the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, its players have been criticized for taking “blood” money to join the tour. However, a recent survey by TheLines.com shows that golf fans aren’t quite as divided on their views toward LIV as we originally thought.

Of the 1,000 American adults surveyed, 65% believe that LIV has positively impacted golf, while only 14% view LIV golfers less favorably for choosing the Saudi-backed tour over the PGA Tour. Furthermore, a significant 57% of respondents said they are indifferent to whether someone plays for LIV or not.

A person teeing off at a golf course
Shutterstock

Many PGA players leave for LIV

The survey also sheds light on the perception of PGA Tour versus LIV Golf players. Despite having shorter events with only 54 holes and starting golfers in threesomes using a shotgun start, LIV Golf’s impact on the PGA Tour has been significant. Many players who left the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf have put pressure on the PGA Tour to reevaluate its operations and reconsider the amount of prize money it offers its players.

Recommended Videos

Notably, six-time major champion Phil Mickelson is the biggest name to switch over to LIV Golf. This came as a huge shock to the golfing world, and the survey reflects that. When asked which player surprised them the most by choosing to play for LIV, 44% of respondents said Phil Mickelson, while 19% said Dustin Johnson, 20% said Cameron Smith, and 13% said Brooks Koepka.

Related

Although LIV golfers are ineligible to compete on the PGA Tour or participate in PGA Tour events, they are permitted to play in professional golf’s four major championships. For the 2023 Masters, 18 LIV golfers have been invited to compete, and among them are 6 former champions.

Interestingly, 58% of survey respondents agreed with Augusta National’s decision to invite LIV Golf players, while 74% said PGA Tour players would perform better at Augusta than LIV golfers, citing more experience and commitment to the game.

The survey also reveals which PGA Tour players respondents think will be the next to join the LIV tour. Adam Scott tops the list with 32%, followed by Patrick Cantlay with 16%, Jon Rahm with 15%, Hideki Matsuyama with 11%, Viktor Hovland with 9%, and Xander Schauffele with 9%.

Despite the survey’s findings on LIV Golf’s impact on the sport, TV ratings for LIV events leave much to be desired, with only 291,000 viewers tuning in for LIV’s first final round on the CW, ranking 51st among the weekend’s 58 national televised sporting events.

While the emergence of LIV Golf has been met with criticism and controversy, the majority of respondents view it positively. As LIV Golf continues to grow and attract top players, it remains to be seen how it will shape the future of golf.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Sarah Joseph
Sarah Joseph
Contributor
Sarah is a lover of all things outdoors. With a bright sense of adventure and a heart for the mountains, she is always…
Golfers are too good at hitting golf balls, so the USGA is making changes
Not everyone is happy with the change
Someone about to take a swing at a golf ball.

If you love the game of golf, there's something so beautiful about watching a player just smack a golf ball so far that it looks like a bird flying away. Well, that's sort of becoming a problem. With the average distance a golfer hits the ball increasing by 1 yard every year; existing golf courses will eventually be outgrown. To try to take things back a bit, the United States Golf Association (USGA) wants new golf balls to enter the chat that do not go the distance. There is a change coming to the game of golf that not everyone will be happy with, but everyone will have to get used to.

What a rollback means in golf terms
Kind of like when Walmart rolls back the prices for us to be able to almost afford butter; the powers that be in golf want to roll back the ball on the golf course. OK, maybe not apples to apples. But the USGA and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A) made a decision that all golf balls, at the pro and amateur levels, will be rolled back to a version that won't go as far as the fancy ones of today do, through the way golf balls are produced and tested.

Read more
Everyday carry company The James Brand makes the most dangerous Christmas Tree ornament we’ve ever seen
Everyday carry meets Home Alone, thanks to The James Brand
The Throwflake ornament in the box.

If Home Alone is one of your favorite holiday movies, you can be like Kevin McCallister and defend your house with nothing but a Christmas ornament, thanks to The James Brand. The outdoorsy company usually sticks to everyday carry items like utility knives and carabiners but thought this was the year to branch out into something new. You know, like Christmas ornaments.

If you want your Christmas tree to double as a home security measure, this ornament will be the show's star. In case the Wet Bandits (or the Sticky Bandits) show up, no one will call you a filthy animal if you have a Throwflake hanging on your tree.

Read more
Golf Pride reintroduces fan-favorite V55 Heritage grip in corded and rubber for a limited time
Old-school cool is back
Man hitting a golf ball behind a bag of clubs

Alright, fellas, gather 'round and listen up. Golf Pride is bringing back a real classic — the V55 Heritage grip — and this time, it's available in both corded and rubber options.

That's right; you can relive the glory days of the V55 with the grip that's been trusted by champions and amateurs alike for years. But there's a catch: It's only available for a limited time.

Read more