LIV Golf star Ian Poulter couldn’t resist aiming a cheeky dig towards the PGA Tour after reports the circuit is struggling to attract an audience.
Ian Poulter couldn’t resist aiming a cheeky dig towards the PGA Tour over their declining TV ratings.
The North American circuit is playing the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head this week.
It is the fifth ‘signature’ event of the 2023-2024 PGA Tour season, offering a staggering $20m prize purse.
Signature events were created in response to the lucrative LIV Golf League where Poulter now plies his trade as a Majestick.
It was hoped these events – reserved for only the cream of the PGA Tour’s crop – would have a huge impact.
First, it was hoped they would prevent further defections to the breakaway whilst also improving the fan experience.
But things haven’t gone to plan and there is likely panic in the corridors of power after the Masters ratings were revealed.
PGA Tour stars reacted to that data before teeing it up in Harbour Town Golf Links.
Matthew Fitzpatrick admitted he was not surprised and world number one Scottie Scheffler echoed his sentiments.
Max Homa took things up a notch by describing the constant talk about money as ‘nauseating’ for golf fans.
Whereas Wyndham Clark simply wasn’t buying it. “I just find it really hard to believe,” he said.
Turning our attentions back to the aforementioned Poulter, he was alerted by another tour pro that JT Poston held the 18-hole lead in Hilton Head.
Poston, you might not know, goes by the moniker The Postman.
What you will likely know is that Poulter shares the same nickname given his Ryder Cup exploits over the years.
Pablo Larrazabal wrote to Poulter on X: “There is only one Postman, right?”
To which the Englishman retorted: “Yeah it’s alright Pablo. It’s not worth losing energy over.
“If it helps their ratings then they can borrow it for now.”
Brutal.
Although it would be interesting to see exactly how many people are tuning it to watch Poulter and LIV.
Depending on your source, you can get extremely different set of figures so far as LIV is concerned.
Last May, GOLF reported the breakaway tour would stop sharing their viewership data from US broadcasts.
It was perhaps a sign that LIV was struggling to attract an audience.
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