Fueled by the presence of Tiger Woods, the 2009 PGA Championship saw a huge increase in ratings and viewership on CBS.
Final round coverage of the PGA Championship, featuring Y.E. Yang‘s victory, drew a 6.6/15 rating and 10.1 million viewers on CBS Sunday — up 136% and 153%, respectively, from a 2.8/6 and 4.0 million last year, and up 6% and 10%, respectively, from a 6.2/14 and 9.2 million in ’07.
Sunday’s final round was the highest rated since ’06 (7.0/16), and tied as the most-viewed since ’02 (10.7 million). Additionally, the 6.6 rating is the fifth-best for final round coverage of the PGA Championship since 1985.
To put the numbers in perspective, the final round of the PGA Championship ranks as the second-most viewed sporting event since the NBA Finals in June, behind only the MLB All-Star Game (8.9 rating, 14.6 million viewers).
Third round coverage of the PGA Championship drew a 4.3/12 rating and 6.2 million viewers on Saturday.
Overall, final round coverage of the four golf majors averaged a 5.9 rating on NBC, CBS and ABC, up 5% from a 5.6 last year. This does not include Monday coverage of the U.S. Open in either ’09 or ’08.
10 most viewed golf telecasts in 2009.
| # | Date | Event | Round | Woods’ results | Net | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun., 4/12/09 | The Masters | Final |
T-6
|
CBS | |
| 2 | Sun., 8/16/09 | PGA Championship | Final |
2nd
|
CBS | |
| 3 | Sat., 4/11/09 | The Masters | Third |
T-6
|
CBS | |
| 4 | Sun., 6/21/09 | U.S. Open | Third / Final |
T-6
|
NBC | |
| 5 | Sun., 3/29/09 | Arnold Palmer Invitational | Final |
Winner
|
NBC | |
| 6 | Sun., 8/9/09 | WGC-Bridgestone Invitational | Final |
Winner
|
CBS | |
| T7 | Sat., 8/15/09 | PGA Championship | Third |
2nd
|
CBS | |
| T7 |
Sun., 7/5/09 | AT&T National | Final |
Winner
|
CBS | |
| T9 | Sun., 7/19/09 | British Open | Final |
Missed cut
|
ABC | |
| T9 | Sun., 5/3/09 | Quail Hollow Championship | Final |
4th
|
CBS |
