The fifth match of the TGL season was its least-watched yet, with Tuesday’s matchup between Los Angeles Golf Club and Boston Common Golf averaging just 544,000 viewers in the 9 p.m. ET window on ESPN. This represents a 37% decline from last week’s overtime thriller featuring Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Links Golf Club, which saw 864,000 viewers. Notably, this was the third different time slot for TGL in as many weeks.
This week’s lead-in was a men’s college basketball game featuring Ole Miss and Kentucky, where the Rebels led by 23 at halftime. This may have softened the viewing audience compared to previous weeks that featured Duke games. While the viewership data for that basketball game was not immediately available, TGL has previously managed to compete with college basketball in terms of viewership. However, as the season progresses toward March, the tides may be shifting; last week, a North Carolina-Pittsburgh game averaged 826,000 viewers in the same Tuesday 9 p.m. ET slot on ESPN.
Over five weeks, TGL has averaged 810,000 viewers per match, with 42% of its audience hailing from the advertiser-favored 18-49 demographic, comparable to the NBA’s draw in that group. It’s worth noting that four of the five TGL matches, including Tuesday’s, have been relatively non-competitive, creating uncertainty over whether this is just bad luck or indicative of an issue with the league’s format. Closer matches could help retain viewers’ interest.
Looking ahead, the league has an exciting schedule in two weeks, highlighted by a Presidents Day tripleheader on ESPN and ESPN2. The first two matches are set for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. ET, introducing new viewing windows for the league. While holiday viewing might enhance viewership, three matches in one day could be a substantial request for the audience, especially given that part of TGL’s appeal is its shorter television formats. Six hours of simulator golf in one day exceeds that of a typical PGA Tour broadcast.
Even if viewership on Presidents Day doesn’t meet expectations, the extensive exposure could benefit the league, which continues to work on building awareness among potential fans. As a league meant to complement the professional golf ecosystem and fit within ESPN’s lineup, the viewership numbers have been reasonably solid thus far. We’ll gain clearer insights into the league’s standing in the upcoming weeks.
