While stories about LIV Golf’s poaching of PGA Tour players produced many of the biggest digital traffic numbers for Golfweek in 2022, the league’s import dipped a bit in 2023. But that doesn’t mean the upstart circuit has fallen off the map altogether.
In fact, posts with LIV Golf produced the fifth-most buzz on our site, behind the PGA Tour, equipment, architecture and the Ryder Cup (in that order).
Unfortunately for league organizers, the focus is still primarily on player movement and opinions about the movement, and not on the on-course product as seen in the top 10 stories of the year below.
Once again, this list was created off of interaction totals with you, the Golfweek reader. We appreciate you.
10
Golf Channel's Brandel Chamblee weighs in on pro golf's blockbuster news: 'I think this is one of the saddest days in the history of professional golf'
As the most outspoken voice in the game on LIV Tour and the growing involvement of the Saudi PIF in golf, Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee’s take on the blockbuster announcement of the merger agreement between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF was greatly anticipated.
9
Was Cameron Smith blackballed by Florida clubs because of his ties to LIV Golf?
Being Cameron Smith, the highest-ranked player in the world to join LIV Golf, has been something of a wild ride over the last year between winning the Players Championship in his backyard in March, the British Open at St. Andrews in July and being wooed for big bucks by LIV CEO Greg Norman in late August.
When you make your residence just a few short miles from the global home of the PGA Tour, the tour where you earned more than $27 million in your 20s and then abandoned for richer pastures, there are going to be awkward moments at the grocery store checkout line, the gas pump, and even the first tee. And people are going to talk.
8
'Nobody is perfect': Bryson DeChambeau torched after CNN interview by golf fans, a PGA Tour player and more
LIV Golf’s Bryson DeChambeau appeared on CNN for a five-minute and 20-second interview with Kaitlin Collins.
It led to plenty of golf fans and even a PGA Tour player torching DeChambeau on social media.
7
Report: Brooks Koepka is 'rethinking his career choice' and may seek a way back on PGA Tour
Is the window closed?
Many fans have been pondering that very question regarding Brooks Koepka and his game since the release of ‘Full Swing,’ the new Netflix documentary on the PGA Tour.
6
'We are deeply disappointed': National Press Club issues statement after LIV Golf announces TV deal with The CW Network
It’s safe to say the National Press Club is not happy with Nexstar’s decision to partner with LIV Golf.
Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world’s leading professional organization for journalists. The Club has 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization and is a leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide.
Its president Jen Judson released a statement regarding LIV Golf’s multi-year TV deal to air its tournaments on The CW Network, which Nexstar Media Group owns.
5
LIV letterman jacket and all: Social media reacts to Jon Rahm leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf
Rahm has followed his good buddies Sergio Garcia and Phil Mickelson to the Greg Norman-led circuit, a move that is surprising given everything he has said in the past about the two leagues.
Here were some of the best reactions to the Rahm-LIV Golf news from across social media.
4
PGA Tour, Tiger Woods react to Jon Rahm's move to LIV Golf
After weeks of speculation, the news finally broke that Jon Rahm is taking his talents from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf.
The world No. 3 and reigning Masters champion explained his move Thursday night on a conference call with reporters and spoke about his legacy often. Rahm said his move was because he likes the LIV Golf product, the idea of playing in different countries and the innovation the league is pushing.
It didn’t take the PGA Tour, and its most famous player, too long to respond.
3
LIV Golf's individual prize money list features 11 players who have earned more than $10 million
You can’t talk about LIV Golf for long without bringing up the exorbitant amount of money the players compete for each event.
With $20 million up for grabs at regular season events ($4 million to the winner), it certainly pays to play well in the LIV Golf League, just ask the likes of Talor Gooch, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith and Brooks Koepka.
2
Brooks Koepka's coach blasts media, bashes Brandel Chamblee for treatment of LIV Golf players
Claude Harmon III will always be known first and foremost as “Butch’s son,” but he’s developing quite a resume of his own.
Harmon III, or CH3 to his friends, has coached some of the biggest names in golf and on Sunday he nabbed his eighth major as a swing instructor —the 2012 British Open with Ernie Els, five majors with Brooks Koepka (three PGA’s and two U.S. Opens) and two with Dustin Johnson (U.S. Open and Masters). Harmon is the Director of Instruction at Butch Harmon Floridian and runs the Claude Harmon III Performance Golf Academy in Dubai
He also has an interesting perspective of LIV Golf vs. PGA Tour as he dabbles in both worlds.
1
Brandel Chamblee feels social media's wrath after PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger news
Since the inception of the PGA Tour vs. LIV debate, there have been a few prominent, outspoken critics of the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund-backed breakaway tour, most notably Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee.
The University of Texas product has certainly stirred things up.
