For the second straight week, the PGA Tour was not able to match last year’s torrid pace.
Final round coverage of the PGA Tour Northern Trust Open earned a 2.6 overnight rating on CBS Sunday, according to USA Today — down 35% from last year (4.1), and even with 2011 (2.6).
Last year’s 4.1 was the highest for the final round of the tournament since 2004.
The Northern Trust Open was the second-straight PGA Tour event to have a decline of over one-third for final round coverage. The Pebble Beach National Pro-Am had a 43% drop.
For some perspective, the previous two tournaments — the Farmers Insurance Open and Phoenix Open — both had increases for final round coverage of at least 65%. Those tournaments were won by Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, respectively.
UPDATED 2/19: Citing USA Today, an earlier version of this post reported that the final round of the Northern Trust Open had a 2.5 overnight rating. Sports Business Daily reported Tuesday that the overnight was a 2.6.
Overnight Ratings For Final Round PGA Tour Telecasts
2013 season
* Farmers Insurance Open concluded on a Monday afternoon. Overnight listed here is for third/final round coverage on Sunday.
(Sunday’s overnight from USA Today)
