Football competition sent the PGA Tour to its smallest Sunday audience of the season.
Final round coverage of the BMW Championship, the third leg of the PGA Tour FedEx Cup, earned 1.8 million viewers on NBC last Sunday — up 6% from last year (1.7) but down 50% from 2012, when Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson finished in the top five (3.6M). Coverage in 2013 was postponed due to rain.
The telecast scored the smallest final round audience on any network this season, falling below the previous mark of 2.0 million for the Texas Open in March. Competition was a major factor, as coverage aired opposite NFL regular season games for the first time this season.
Despite the lower numbers, the BMW Championship was the 21st of the past 27 final round telecasts to have an increase in ratings and/or viewership.
Third round action last Saturday drew 1.4 million viewers, down 26% from both last year and 2013 (1.9M both years). Coverage aired in a special early timeslot to accommodate Notre Dame football, compared to the traditional 3-6 PM ET window the previous two years.
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily)
