LIV Golf Tulsa taken off air in US before dramatic finale

The dramatic conclusion to LIV Golf’s Tulsa event was not available for many TV viewers in the United States after live coverage was pulled off air.

LIV’s sole television broadcaster, The CW Network, took the final stages of the 54-hole tournament off air following a lengthy weather delay in Oklahoma.

It is understood some viewers across certain regions in America could still access the broadcast, but others were left bewildered as the final round TV coverage ended with just a few holes remaining.

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That is because the CW Network’s affiliates decided to broadcast other shows, rather than the Saudi-backed league’s finale after the golf’s allotted time slot ended.

Dan Rapaport of Barstool Sports tweeted: “LIV Golf off actual TV here in Brooklyn with a few holes left on Sunday. Channel 11 decided to go with S9E8 of Penn & Teller “Animal Style”. Not a joke.”

Dustin Johnson ultimately emerged victorious in a three-man playoff as he edged out Cameron Smith and Brandon Grace to seal the inaugural LIV Tulsa title.

The two-time major champion holed a birdie putt from the fringe on the first play-off hole to claim his second individual LIV title and a bumper $4,000,000 payday.

The decisive moments of Johnson’s latest victory could still be viewed on the CW app and LIV Golf Plus, but the lack of TV coverage may have irked LIV CEO and commissioner Greg Norman in his bid to gain maximum exposure for his fledgling series.

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Under LIV’s agreement with the CW Network, the final two rounds are scheduled to be shown on TV, but a near two-hour rain delay earlier on Sunday appeared to scupper hopes of live coverage of perhaps their most exciting finish to an event yet.

Meanwhile, Johnson and 17 other LIV golfers are heading from Tulsa to Oak Hill in Rochester for this week’s PGA Championship, the second men’s major of the year.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.