LIV Golf fans miss season opening due to error as league copies Super Bowl with new initiative

Golf fans outside America wanting to watch the opening tee shots of the 2025 LIV Golf season in Saudi Arabia were unable to do so due to a live stream technical error. The LIV setup kicked off their year under the lights at Riyadh Golf Club on Thursday, with the opening round getting underway at 6:15 p.m. local time. There was a feeling of anticipation surrounding the season starter, but some fans in the UK wanting to tune in were unable to catch the shotgun start.

A number of fans took to social media to highlight the issue, with one tweeting: "LIV Golf made such a big deal about signing with FOX in the US that they forgot about the rest of the world. We can only watch on the app in the UK and the app isn’t working…". Another then posted: "Liv Golf App already crashing good start that." In seasons previously, fans watching across the British Isles were able to do so through the LIV Golf YouTube channel, but this appears to have been scrapped for the 2025 season.

On the back of the technical hitch on Thursday, it appears some fans want to see the coverage return to YouTube. "Still not working for me. I’m giving up. Put it back on YouTube!" One X user posted, whilst another wrote: "Same issue for me. Complete fail by LIV. They should keep it on YouTube in UK.". The appeared to be quickly cleared up after the first round got underway, and those tuning in will see another first on the LIV setup. The pre-event broadcast confirmed that a 'half-time show' will be brought in for the first round in Riyadh, with play taking a three-minute break to allow the league to channel their inner Super Bowl.

For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US. The event in Saudi Arabia is the first broadcast as part of the breakaway league's multi-year agreement with FOX Sports in the United States. It is believed that the coverage on FOX went ahead as planned, with no issues for those watching in the US. The move to bank a deal with FOX is one of LIV's biggest moves yet, having previously failed to make their presence know in the TV industry. New LIV CEO Scott O'Neil is thought to have played a key role in the agreement, having replaced Greg Norman last month.

“We are thrilled to partner with FOX Sports, one of the preeminent broadcast networks in the world,” O’Neil said. “LIV Golf is getting bigger and bolder, and this relationship signals the next phase of growth as our League joins the company of the nation’s premier sports leagues and conferences. "I want to thank the FOX Sports team who share our vision for the future of golf, a new model that is redefining how the sport is experienced. LIV Golf is drawing a younger, more active and tech-savvy fan base, and as our players and teams prepare for LIV Golf’s biggest season yet, this agreement will take our broadcast to new heights.”.