Bubba Watson made his LIV Golf League debut last September in Boston, but he has yet to play in an LIV event because of injury. He was an on-course reporter for his Niblicks GC team and a non-playing captain.
The two-time Masters champion will be in Saudi Arabia this week for the PIF Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.
Watson was asked about the growth of the game during his press conference before the tournament.
He said that his 10-year-old son signed me up for LIV because he was in bed with him and was watching TV on golf. “Everyone knows the Aces. They keep winning.” He knew the Aces and the Stingers. He didn’t know the individual names of the players, he only knew the team names. As a 10-year old who had never watched golf, I knew there was a product. LIV is a niche product. It has a reason.
“My son is used the Yankees. He is used to watching the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs. He is used to watching teams. High school golf has a group, college golf has one, and the Ryder Cup, which is a team event, is one of the most important events in golf. We’ll be able to make professional golf more accessible to all ages, from the below-60 year olds who are now interested in watching to the 10-year-olds who want to.
“I believe we’re on the right track with LIV and that’s why it’s important for me to be part of it. My 10-year-old daughter, who had never watched golf before, now watches it. She also knows the logo. Her family was involved in creating the new logo and team colors. This is what we are trying to achieve.
“To grow the game, it’s not about getting the 60- or 70-year olds to play; it’s getting young children to play.”
LIV has recently signed a broadcast agreement with The CW. This is a popular network for its younger audience. The 2023 LIV golf schedule first event is in Mexico, Mayakoba (February 24-26).
