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Solheim Cup Seven Times More Popular than Rahm’s Double Victory

The teams were supported by thousands of fans on site and behind the screens. (Photo: Getty)
The teams were supported by thousands of fans on site and behind the screens. (Photo: Getty)

A look at the viewing figures for last week’s golf TV broadcasts shows that the women’s events were by far the most popular with golf fans. The Solheim Cup was a highlight in the women’s tournament calendar that dominated the TV landscape. Neither the LIV Golf League nor the PGA Tour aroused anywhere near as much interest.

Solheim Cup 2024 dominated the ratings

Compared to the last Solheim Cup, which took place in Spain in 2022, the ratings increased significantly in this year’s edition, according to Josh Carpenter from Sports Business Journal. The singles matches on Sunday in particular sparked interest behind the screens, with an average of 657,000 viewers watching on NBC on the final day, more than twice as many viewers as the previous edition of the continental competition. On Saturday, the ratings were similarly high with 634,000 viewers. The figures were particularly pleasing in view of the fact that the Cup fell on the second Sunday of the National Football League. As the Cup finished in the early afternoon in the Eastern time zone, the events did not overlap for the most part.

LIV Golf and PGA Tour put in the shade

The season finale in the individual rankings of the LIV Golf League took place at the same time as the Solheim Cup. Also one of the highlights of the year, it didn’t stand a chance against the women’s competition. Although Jon Rahm won the tournament in Chicago and thus also the season title, the tournament attracted far less attention with only around 89,000 spectators. On Saturday there were still 134,000 spectators.

However, the PGA Tour received the least attention, with just 69,000 spectators. The Procore Championship was the first event of the Fall Series, which was watched by only around a tenth of the spectators who were rooting for the ladies.

The figures for the Solheim Cup are particularly pleasing in terms of viewing figures throughout the year. The declining ratings were notable throughout the PGA Tour season and were underscored by double-digit declines for all three FedEx Cup Playoff events, according to Sports Media Watch. The Tour Championship saw a 13 percent drop in viewership, while the FedEx St. Jude Championship was down 31 percent and the BMW Championship was down 19 percent.

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Highlights Tours

US Open 2024 Live Blog: Bryson DeChambeau Wins Second US Open

The third major of the year, the US Open 2024, will take place this year at Pinehurst Golf & Country Club on the legendary Pinehurst No. 2 course. This year, the golf world’s elite will be battling it out for the prestigious title from June 13 to 16.

The US Open 2024 Live Blog

Pinehurst No. 2 is hallowed ground for golf fans and has long been one of the most famous golf courses in the world. The course designed by Donald Ross (opened in 1907) looks back on more than 110 years of history and has already hosted the Ryder Cup, the PGA Championship, the US Open and the US Womens Open. The course’s greens are particularly famous. Unlike at many courses, it does not mean that a ball that lands on the green will stay there. This is because most of the putting surfaces are domed, which means that many shots that do not land exactly in the targeted area roll back down.

Last year, Wyndham Clark secured victory in the “Open American”. This earned him 600 FedEx Cup points as well as prize money of 3.6 million US dollars. In addition to the best golfers in the world and some amateurs, players who have secured a place in the field via the numerous qualifying tournaments also compete against each other at the US Open.

The field – strong competition

A number of LIV players have also qualified for the tournament in various ways and will be traveling to North Carolina: Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, among others, will be competing. Martin Kaymer will also be competing for the Major title this week, which he already secured in 2014 on the same course.

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Highlights Tours

Invitation Accepted: Tiger Woods to Play the US Open 2024

Tiger Woods last played the 2024 US Masters (Photo: Getty)
Tiger Woods last played the 2024 US Masters (Photo: Getty)

It is the first time in almost 30 years that Tiger Woods has not automatically qualified for a major tournament. Thanks to his countless successes, Woods has not missed a single major qualification since the 1996 PGA Championship, in which he took part as an amateur. In 2024, he will have to rely on a special permit for the first time.

While he enjoys a lifetime entry into the US Masters and the PGA Championship and is allowed to play in the British Open until the age of 60, his eligibility to play in the US Open expired this year. He last received a five-year exemption for the US Open following his victory at the 2019 US Masters, but this expired at the beginning of the year.

Tiger Woods plays the US Open 2024 thanks to special permit

Tiger Woods celebrated his last major success in 2019. His victory at the 2019 US Masters was considered the greatest comeback in golf history – since then, Woods has been plagued by various injuries that have repeatedly made it impossible for him to play golf. He has since competed in several major tournaments again. He has announced about one start per month for this season. This includes participation in the US Open 2024.

However, Tiger Woods needed special permission to do so: “The U.S. Open, our national championship, is a truly special event for our game and one that has helped define my career. I’m honored to receive this exemption and could not be more excited for the opportunity to compete in this year’s U.S. Open, especially at Pinehurst, a venue that means so much to the game.”

Will Tiger Woods make history once again?

Woods last won the tournament in 2008 and this year, from June 13-16, it will be decided whether the 15-time major champion will triumph once again. “The story of the U.S. Open could not be written without Tiger Woods,” USGA chief championships officer John Bodenhamer said in a statement. “From his 15-stroke victory at Pebble Beach in 2000 to his inspiring win on a broken leg at Torrey Pines in 2008, this championship is simply better when Tiger is in the field, and his accomplishments in the game undoubtedly made this an easy decision for our special exemption committee.”