Tiger Woods‘ easy win at the Bridgestone Invitational was the lowest rated of his eight victories at the event.
Final round coverage of the PGA Tour Bridgestone Invitational earned a 3.2 final rating and 4.6 million viewers on CBS last Sunday afternoon, up 146% in ratings from coverage opposite the Olympics last year (1.3), and up 23% and 21%, respectively, from 2011 (2.6, 3.8M).
Sunday’s telecast ranks as the highest rated and most-viewed final round of the event since Woods’ previous win in 2009 (4.2, 6.3M).
With that said, the 3.2 rating also ranks as the lowest for any of Woods’ eight victories at the event. The previous low was a 3.3 for his win in 2007.
As should be expected, the ratings have generally corresponded with the level of competition. Woods won last week’s event by seven strokes — exceeded only by his eight-stroke in 2007 and his 11-stroke win in 2000 (4.7). Of his eight wins at the event, the four lowest rated have been the four least competitive — 2013 (3.2), 2007 (3.3), 2009 (4.3) and 2000 (4.7).
By contrast, his four highest rated wins at the event have been in years when he won by either one stroke or in a playoff. His two playoff victories — 2001 and 2006 — rank as his highest rated wins at the tournament, with final round coverage earning a 7.0 and 5.8 rating, respectively.
Of course, Woods still moves the needle more than any of his competitors. Even with the lower rating, Sunday’s final round drew a higher rating than any non-Woods victory at the tournament since Darren Clarke‘s win in 2003 (4.1).
On Saturday, third round coverage earned a 2.6 final rating and 3.6 million viewers — up 189% in ratings from last year (0.9), and up 37% and 38%, respectively, from 2011 (1.9, 2.6M).
Keep in mind that the Time Warner Cable-CBS conflict likely had at least some effect on the numbers. CBS was blacked out to TWC subscribers in several major markets.
Final Ratings For Sunday Coverage of Bridgestone Invitational
In years when Tiger Woods won
(Weekend numbers from Nielsen)
