🎭 To LIV or Not to LIV? That Is the $100-Million Question

It’s the hottest drama in golf—Shakespeare meets sand traps. You’ve got tradition vs. disruption, polos vs. party vibes, and legacy vs. LIV-bucks. Some call it a civil war, others call it a golf revolution. At Bad Bogey Society, we call it great entertainment with a fat side of money talk. Let’s break down the fairway feud that’s splitting locker rooms and stirring up every 19th hole convo “To LIV or Not to LIV”?  

The Players: Who’s Jumping Ship?  

Big hitters that switched to LIV are Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, and Tyrrell Hatton. They packed their bags for private jets, team formats, and massive signing bonuses (think “buy your own island” money). PGA Loyalists like Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Tiger Woods are holding the fort, waving the tradition flag high (and yes, Tiger reportedly turned down almost a BILLION to stay).  

Are Any LIV Players Coming Back?  

Yep. James Piot made history this year as the first LIV pro to earn his way back into a PGA Tour event. Others like Brooks Koepka are playing footsie with the idea. One word: popcorn.  

📺 Popularity & Viewership: Who’s Actually Watching?  

PGA Tour is still the crowd favorite when it comes to TV ratings, golf history, and people yelling “mashed potatoes!” on tee shots. LIV Golf is the new kid on the block. Less fans, but flashier presentation. Think Formula 1 meets golf, loud, bold, and Instagram ready. Rory McIlroy even said the PGA doesn’t “need” a merger—because it’s already trending upward with things like TGL and Netflix specials. But let’s be real, if golf had a reality show, LIV would be the drama king. When both tours run events on the same Sunday, the PGA Tour’s final-round audience is about 18 times larger than LIV’s. PGA Tour averages 3.1 million viewers to LIV Golfs 175,000 average viewers. For example, the Valero Texas Open (PGA Tour) had 1,746,000 average viewers while LIV Golf Miami had 484,000 average viewers (LIV’s best ever). Even at its highest, LIV’s U.S. broadcast reached only about 27 percent of the PGA Tour’s comparable event audience. PGA Tour leverages major over-the-air networks to attract a broad cross-generational audience. LIV Golf focuses on digital-first platforms (YouTube, TikTok, proprietary app), capturing a growing slice of 18–34 year-olds. One advantage for LIV golf over PGA is online presence and social media. PGA Tour’s social media and digital assets are up 15–20 percent year-over-year, showing growth beyond traditional TV. LIV Golf on YouTube has 3.44 million average monthly views (Feb–Sep 2024), up 68 percent from 2023, 5.3 million views in April 2025 (best month yet). On TikTok LIV boasts 1.1 million followers and over 22 million likes. Official LIV Golf+ app and highlights have 10 million+ monthly views, skewing younger. Overall, the PGA Tour overwhelmingly dominates traditional TV viewership, while LIV Golf compensates with faster-growing digital engagement among younger, mobile-centric fans.  

💰 Show Me the Money  

LIV has no cuts. No sweat. Just cash. Bryson and Rahm reportedly signed for nine figures. It’s like winning the lottery just for showing up. In the PGA you gotta earn your check. Play well or go home broke. But thanks to LIV shaking the tree, the PGA upped its game with bigger purses and bonus programs. Even Greg Norman (LIV CEO) bragged, “You’re welcome.” PGA Tour has a Base salary of $150,000 per year, paid regardless of performance. While Prize money distributed by a standard formula (winner ~18% of purse, runner-up ~10.8%, etc.). As well as incentive bonuses for milestones like tournament wins and FedExCup standings. Also, sponsorship and endorsement deals on top of on-course earnings. On the other hand, LIV Golf has Up-front sign-on fees in the high-eight to nine-figure range; top deals include $300 million (Jon Rahm), $200 million (Phil Mickelson), $130 million (Brooks Koepka), $125 million (Dustin Johnson & Bryson DeChambeau). Regular-season event purse of $25 million each, broke down to $20 million for individual competition, $5 million for team competition. Winner’s check of $4 million per event; lowest-finisher guaranteed $120,000 in a no-cut format. Team payouts are $3 million to winning team, $1.5 million for second, $500,000 for third. Season-long individual bonus pool of $30 million with 1st $18 M, 2nd $12 M, 3rd $4 M. Season-ending Team Championship nets $50 million purse (winning team splits $16 M four ways; runners-up $10 M; third $8 M). PGA Tour pros rely on performance-based prize money, supplemented by modest base salaries and endorsements. LIV Golf pros receive massive guaranteed sign-on fees and exceptionally high per-event payouts, with no risk of missing the cut. Even though top PGA majors rival LIV in winner’s pay, the average PGA player earns far less annually than many LIV signees. Season-long incentive structures differ with PGA Tour’s FedExCup rewards top finishers in bonus money, whereas LIV’s large upfront bonuses skew earnings heavily toward marquee names.  

Style of Play: Grit vs. Glitz  

PGA has a Classic style 72 holes, cut lines, serious vibes. It’s golf the way your granddad played it (except with $20 million at stake). LIV play is only 54 holes(LIV is 54 in roman numerals). No cuts. Shotgun starts. Team names like “Smash GC” and “Torque” (yes, really). Some love the new format. Others, like Nick Faldo, call it “fail-free golf” for softies.  

🏆 Do LIV Players Still Get to Play the Majors?  

Mostly yes, for now. Past winners like Koepka and DJ are still in. But they’re fighting for world ranking points so LIV golfers can qualify long-term. Bryson and Rahm are pushing for changes to the LIV format to finally get into the OWGR club. Until then? It’s all up in the air like a 3-wood on a windy par 5.  

🔊 What Are the Experts Saying?  

Joaquín Niemann (LIV): “No cambiaría mis victorias en el LIV por un grande.” Translation? He’s not trading his LIV wins for a major. Spicy. Jack Nicklaus: “I don’t even consider those guys part of the game anymore.” Oof. Harsh grandpa energy. Nick Faldo: “They’ve gone soft.” He’s basically calling LIV golfers the gluten-free cupcakes of pro golf. Rory McIlroy: Still hopeful for unity someday, but not desperate for a merger. “We’re doing just fine,” he says. 💅  

🔮 What’s Next?  

Expect more movement. Younger players may chase cash. Older stars might try a comeback tour. LIV could get OWGR points, which would be a game-changer. A hybrid future? Maybe. Joint events? PGA x LIV collabs? Golf’s version of a crossover episode? We’ll see.  

Final Take from Bad Bogey Society 🏌️♂️  

The choice to LIV or not to LIV isn’t just about money, it’s about identity. Are you in it for the grind, the glory, and the green jacket? Or are you playing team golf on a tropical course with DJs spinning behind 18? Either way, golf has never been this entertaining. And here at Bad Bogey Society, we’re loving every twist in this high-stakes, high-handicap drama. Want more takes like this? Stay tuned. Or better yet, grab a beer, wear your worst polo, and start your own golf rebellion the Bad Bogey way.  

-BrettyWap