PGA vs LIV: Which players are most popular on social media?

In the world of golf, social media has become an important tool for players to connect with fans, promote their brands, and share their personal lives. The PGA and LIV are two of the biggest golf tours in the world, and many of their players have a significant following on social media. In this article, we will compare the popularity of players on both tours using data from various sources.

Social Media Followers

One of the most straightforward ways to measure the popularity of a golf player on social media is by looking at their number of followers. The top three players on the PGA Tour in terms of total social media) are Tiger Woods 12.9m, Rory McIlroy, and Phil Mickelson 7pm. Tiger Woods leads the way with over 12.9 million followers across his social media platforms (Twitter, Instagram and Facebook), while Mickelson and McIlroy have over 7 million followers each.

On the other hand, the LIV Tour’s most popular players on social media are Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, and Rickie Fowler. According to data from MarkMeets, Fowler has the most social media followers on the LIV Tour with over 3.8 million across his platforms, followed by Fowler with over 2.3 million, and DeChambeau with over 1.3 million.

Social Media Engagement

While follower count is a good indicator of popularity, it doesn’t necessarily reflect how engaged a player’s audience is. Social media engagement metrics such as likes, comments, and shares can provide a better insight into how active and involved a player’s fanbase is.

Social media posts about Scheffler increased by 168% after Full Swing in new data analysis from Betway, who is 5/1 in the golf betting markets.

According to data from Blinkfire Analytics, Tiger Woods has the highest average engagement rate (4.5%) among PGA Tour players. Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson are the next two most engaging players with engagement rates of 3.7% and 3.6%, respectively.

On the LIV Tour, Justin Thomas has the highest average engagement rate (3.3%), followed by Bryson DeChambeau with 2.9%, and Rickie Fowler with 2.5%.

Sponsorship Value

Social media popularity can also have a significant impact on a player’s sponsorship value. Brands are increasingly looking to partner with athletes who have a strong presence on social media to reach a wider audience and engage with consumers in new ways.

According to data from Hookit, Rory McIlroy has the highest sponsorship value on the PGA Tour, estimated at over $37 million in 2021. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson follow closely behind with estimated sponsorship values of $32 million and $28 million, respectively.

On the LIV Tour, the player with the highest estimated sponsorship value is Bryson DeChambeau at over $17 million, followed by Justin Thomas with an estimated value of $13 million and Rickie Fowler with $11 million.

Conclusion

Overall, the PGA Tour players tend to have a larger social media following than their LIV Tour counterparts. However, LIV Tour players are still highly popular on social media and have significant engagement rates and sponsorship values.

Ultimately, social media popularity is just one aspect of a player’s overall brand value, but it can play a crucial role in their ability to connect with fans and attract sponsors. By leveraging social media effectively, golf players can build a strong personal brand and establish themselves as influential figures both on and off the course.