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Love or hate LIV Golf? Our survey shows the truth is that most golf fans simply don’t care

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Its emergence tore men’s professional golf in two. But what do you really think about the breakaway tour? Our latest NCG survey reveals all

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Rory McIlroy once said he “hated” it. It has been followed throughout its short life by allegations it has helped facilitate sports-washing.

Its audience figures are pored over and social media divides into two passionate camps debating every nuance of its existence.

But away from the trenches and the headlines, in UK golf clubhouses at least, it appears LIV Golf’s progress is viewed with a fair degree of indifference.

In our latest NCG survey, filled in by readers who subscribe to our daily email newsletter, we asked respondents what they thought about the Saudi-backed venture and the impact it had on the professional game.

What are the results?

LIV golf

What do you think of LIV Golf?

The truth? Many of us just aren’t all that bothered about it. Asked this question, 52.5 per cent of respondents said they were indifferent to it.

Just under a quarter (24.4%) revealed they did not like it and only 2.6% admitted to loving the three-day venture.

What do you think of LIV Golf?

I love it – 2.6%

I like it – 9.1%

I’m indifferent to it – 52.5%

I don’t like it – 24.4%

I hate it – 11.4%

The figures suggest, at least for a largely UK-based audience, there is still a long way to go for LIV Golf to embed itself in the landscape – despite the recent moves by The Open and the US Open to grant it major exemptions.

Has the conflict between LIV Golf and the PGA and DP World Tours changed your view of professional golf?

For the better – 2.2%

It has made no difference – 45.5%

For the worse – 52.3%

We’re continually being told how this schism continues to damage the professional game, particularly in the context of dwindling TV audiences.

Those who filled in our survey agree – but only marginally. Maybe it’s simply created a culture of apathy for those of us who observe the very elite level of sport, but nearly as many people said the ongoing row hadn’t had any impact on their perspective of the professional game as those who believed it had.

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Now have your say

What do you think about LIV Golf? Do you agree with the survey view? Let us know by leaving a comment on X.

About the author

Steve Carroll
Steve Carroll

A journalist for more than 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long.

A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A’s prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.

Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men’s Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.

A part of NCG’s Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He’d like to tell you he floats around 10. The reality is more like 13.

Steve plays at Sandburn Hall, in York, and is a country member at Close House in Newcastle. He has served on various club committees during his time in the game, and is the current Rules Secretary at Sandburn.

Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NCTJ exams at Darlington College of Technology. He began his career working on weekly papers in Newcastle, before joining the York Press in 2001. After five years as a news reporter, he joined the sports desk – specialising in horse racing and snooker – and was Digital Sports Editor when he joined National Club Golfer in 2016.

What’s in Steve’s bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; Caley 01T irons 4-PW; TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedges, Odyssey 2Ball Microhinge putter.

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