-
Mark Schlabach, ESPN senior writer
LIV Golf has entered into a multi-year broadcast deal with Fox Sports, which will broadcast each of the three rounds of the events live in the United States on one of its network’s channels and streaming app starting this season.
LIV Golf announced Thursday that more than half of its 14 tournaments will be broadcast live on Fox or FS1, while some rounds will be broadcast on FS2, Fox Business Network or the Fox Sports app. Each game will be broadcast on the Fox Sports app and LIV Golf+, the circuit said.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed and it was unclear whether Fox Sports would pay rights for the Saudi-funded tour.
“We are thrilled to partner with FOX Sports, one of the most important broadcast networks in the world,” new LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil said in a statement. “LIV Golf is getting bigger and bolder, and this relationship marks the next phase of growth as our league joins the company of the nation’s premier sports leagues and conferences.
“I want to thank the FOX Sports team for sharing our vision for the future of golf, a new model that redefines the way the sport is experienced. LIV Golf attracts a younger, more active and more knowledgeable fan base technology, and as our players and teams prepare for LIV Golf’s biggest season yet, this deal will take our broadcast to new heights.”
O’Neil, the former Merlin Entertainments executive, was officially named the new CEO of LIV Golf on Wednesday. The circuit said former CEO and commissioner Greg Norman will transfer day-to-day operations but will remain involved in an undisclosed capacity.
The third season of LIV will begin on February 6-8 at Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia, followed by tournaments in Australia (February 14-16), Hong Kong (March 7-9) and Singapore (March 14-16).
The first LIV golf tournament in the United States will be played at Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami and is scheduled for April 4-6, the week before the Masters.
The deal with Fox Sports is expected to increase U.S. exposure for LIV Golf, which struggled to gain viewership during its first two seasons on the CW network. According to Golfweek, fewer than 100,000 people watched Jon Rahm win the 2024 individual championship.
“FOX Sports is excited to broadcast the LIV Golf League, featuring athletes at the top of their game competing at an elite level for viewers across the country,” said Jordan Bazant, Executive Vice President, Fox Sports , in a press release. “The addition of LIV Golf is a natural fit with FOX Sports’ deep roster of big events, world-class names and premium sports coverage.”