{
  "id": 9001755,
  "title": "2026 Solheim Cup's disappointing TV ratings should be a wake-up call | Opinion",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/2026-solheim-cups-disappointing-tv-ratings-should-be-a-wake-up-call",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-21T20:32:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/2026-solheim-cups-disappointing-tv-203251091.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The 2026 Solheim Cup failed to generate the buzz that organizers had hoped for, as evidenced by its lackluster TV ratings in the United States. Josh Carpenter of the Sports Business Journal detailed the grim numbers in an X post: 179,000 viewers tuned in on Saturday, and despite the match ending in a 8-8 draw, that number dipped to 170,000 on Sunday when Europe emerged victorious. This represents a 39 percent decrease from the 277,000 viewers that watched the previous year's event in Spain, and a mere 227,000 viewers during the U.S. team's triumph in 2015.\n\nThe Solheim Cup, often heralded as the pinnacle of women's golf, was held at an unknown venue, which may not have been the most enticing factor for viewers. Bernardus Golf, while staging a compelling competition, appears unlikely to be a reason for viewers to tune in. The decline in viewership may be attributed to the rise of competing sports coverage, with the LPGA's overall viewership on Golf Channel decreasing from 190,000 in 2022 to just 97,000 in 2025. However, there is a silver lining: viewership increases when the LPGA competes alongside the PGA Tour.\n\nLPGA officials are optimistic about improving the situation, with J.D. Sterba, the LPGA's vice president of communications, expressing excitement about future events like the 2027 Solheim Cup at Valhalla. Sterba emphasized the need to separate the performance of this single event from the health of the LPGA's audience overall, which has been on an upward trend year over year.\n\nMoreover, the LPGA's digital audience has expanded by about 30 percent during the Solheim Cup week compared to 2023. However, the success of the Solheim Cup hinges on more than just the performance of its star players. The U.S. team, featuring players like Nelly Korda, Paula Creamer, and Cristie Kerr, has seen a rise in star power, but the retirements of popular American stars have left a void in terms of star power. Only two Americans, Korda and Lauren Coughlin, have won matches in 2026. To boost the team's appeal, the LPGA should focus on promoting the tournament more extensively, investing in resources to introduce the players to a broader audience.",
  "summary": "The 2026 Solheim Cup's TV ratings in the U.S. were nothing short of a gut-punch.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}