LIV Golf Secures Game-Changing TV Deal with Fox Sports: How Trump-Linked, Saudi-Backed League is Going Mainstream

LIV Golf has partnered with Fox Sports to broadcast its events starting next month. This agreement offers LIV Golf a major platform, leveraging the reach of Fox’s channels.

Beginning with the 2025 season kickoff in Saudi Arabia on February 6, Fox will air nearly all LIV tournaments. About half of the competition will be shown on Fox’s main network and FS1, while other broadcasts will appear on Fox Business and the Fox Sports app. LIV Golf will manage its own broadcasts, setting it apart from other leagues, like the PGA Tour, that typically have larger media contracts with networks like CBS and ESPN.

Details about the financial side of the deal remain unclear. Reports indicate Fox is paying a “modest” fee to LIV, which is much smaller compared to the PGA Tour’s $700 million annual deal. Previously, LIV did not have a rights fee arrangement during its first two seasons aired on the CW.

Launched in 2023, LIV Golf made waves in the sports scene by attracting top players, including Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka, with lucrative contracts. However, the funding from the Saudi government has raised concerns about “sportswashing,” addressing significant human rights issues in the country. Despite this, many golfers have embraced the financial opportunities, with several LIV players making the list of the highest-paid golfers worldwide.

Former President Trump has been connected to LIV Golf since its start, urging golfers to take the money and join. His courses have hosted multiple LIV events, contributing to their visibility. Trump has often praised LIV players, such as Bryson DeChambeau, highlighting close ties with the league.

In June 2023, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf announced plans to merge into one entity, shocking many after their previous rivalries. However, progress on this merger seems slow, even with Trump’s influence mentioned as a potential boost to negotiations.