The PGA Tour is dwindling with some big problems. Slow play and viewership are on top of the list. In 2024, the Tour averaged 2.2 million viewers for its Sunday telecasts (excluding majors), a 19% drop from the 2.7 million viewers in 2023. This decline stands out. Truly. Even the season-opening event of 2025, The Sentry, saw a decline in viewership, highlighting the trouble. In all of this, Rory McIlroy came out as a hero and saved the day. With this second win in California.

At the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am final round on Sunday, the Northern Irishman sunk an incredible eagle on the fourteenth hole. His round had five birdies and a bogey, leading to a 6-under 66. He defeated Shane Lowry by two strokes. Seeing him perform so well once again, a lot of people from the golf community tuned in.

Rory McIlroy’s California win gives the PGA Tour a new hope

As per reports shared by Josh Carpenter, “CBS gets 3.3M viewers for Pebble Beach final round, which would be the highest for the event since 2021 (Berger won, Spieth T3) at 4.19M. That would rank as the most-watched non-major, non-Players broadcasts for all of last season.”

Rory McIlroy considers Pebble Beach as one of the most elite courses out there, “You know, there are a few, what I would call, ‘cathedrals of golf.” To knock one off at Pebble Beach is very cool.” This is his second win in California. His first was in 2015 in a matchplay event. Winning at Pebble Beach has given him more confidence to conquer the battle at Augusta, and complete his career Grand Slam.

McIlroy beautifully savored the moment, lifting the beautiful trophy, and getting clicked. He also posed with the volunteering committee at the course. “Couldn’t wish for a better start for my PGA Tour season,” he said at the post-round conference. He then had a video call with his wife, where his daughter Poppy thanked him, and well, McIlroy never looked happier.

The 3.3 million viewers for the final round is more than double the 1.4 million who

watched Harris English claim victory at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. The broadcast even peaked at nearly 4 million viewers towards the end. Alongside the Tour, even LIV Golf has been suffering the same viewership issue, and it does not seem to get better, at least according to the fans.

LIV Golf bashed after PGA Tour’s successful round

Despite his major drought, Rory McIlroy resiliently continues to give stellar performances. Although he only grabbed two wins last season, remember the fight he put up against Bryson DeChambeau at the US Open? That was what made all the difference. No doubt he remains the fan favorite. Taking to this, people left comments like, “Is it safe to say Rory is the current “Needle” in golf?” And “Needle mover.”

When we say the numbers have not been pretty great for LIV either, let’s go back to LIV Golf Chicago last year. The viewership numbers revealed that just 89,000 fans tuned in on the CW network to watch Jon Rahm secure the title on the final day. The Saturday prior, which the league touted as their most attended event in the U.S., drew 134,000 television viewers. They are yet to begin their 2025 season, and, well, who knows what will happen?

However, one thing is certain. PGA Tour’s victory has surely put them under a lot of pressure. Taking to this, people left comments like, “LIV fans punching the air rn.” Well LIV Golf has taken away big names like Jon Rahm, and Brooks Koepka, the Tour is conquering. Taking to this, one of them wrote, “It was one of the first nonmajor tournaments in a while that’s had several popular players on the leaderboard. Unfortunately, LIV has siphoned off some of the best players on the PGA Tour.”

Some of the best players on the Tour have begun the season late. For instance, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am was Scottie Scheffler’s and Rory McIlroy’s 2025 PGA Tour debut. That could also be one of the many reasons why the viewership peaked. Taking to this, another fan wrote, “Having the best players makes a difference.”

What are your thoughts on the rising viewership of the PGA Tour? Let us know in the comments section below!