After an increase in the overnights, final ratings dipped for the PGA Tour at Torrey Pines.
Final round coverage of the PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open earned a 2.2 final rating and 3.2 million viewers on CBS last Sunday, down a tick in ratings from last year (2.3) and down 31% from comparable Sunday coverage in 2013 (3.2). Viewership for previous years was unavailable.
The 2.2 rating is tied as the third-lowest for Sunday coverage of the event since at least 1996, ahead of only 2009 (2.0) and 2012 (1.8). Despite the lower numbers, the telecast tied ABC’s Lakers/Cavaliers NBA game as the highest rated sporting event of the weekend and ranked a close second in viewership.
Keep in mind that the tournament did not conclude on CBS. The network handed off to Golf Channel at 7 PM ET toward the end of a four-way playoff. Golf Channel earned a 1.0 and 1.6 million viewers for its 15 minutes of coverage.
Third round action the previous day drew a 1.1 and 1.6 million, down 31% in ratings from last year (1.6) and even with rainout coverage in 2013 (1.1).
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily, Awful Announcing)
