For the third straight tournament, coverage of the FedEx Cup had a massive increase in ratings compared to last year.
Final round coverage of the BMW Championship, the third tournament of the PGA Tour FedEx Cup, earned a 2.5 final rating and 3.6 million viewers on NBC Sunday afternoon — up 178% in ratings and 172% in viewership from last year (0.9, 1.326M), and up 92% and 91%, respectively, from 2010 (1.3, 1.889M).
This marks the highest rated final round of the tournament since Tiger Woods won in 2007 (3.1), even topping Woods’ most recent victory in 2009 (2.3).
Woods finished third in this year’s tournament, with fellow marquee name Phil Mickelson in a tie for fourth.
Third round action on Saturday drew a 1.6 final rating, up 129% from last year (0.7), and up 46% from 2010 (1.1). The telecast aired from Noon to 3:30 PM ET to accommodate Notre Dame football; continuing coverage on The Golf Channel earned a 1.3 from 3:30 to 7 PM.
So far, all six FedEx Cup telecasts on broadcast (CBS and NBC) have had double-digit increases in ratings. Five of the six rounds have had increases of over 70%.
(Weekend numbers from Sports Business Daily)
