Given the absence of some big stars and competition from the NCAA Tournament, the Arnold Palmer Invitational did well enough on NBC.
Final round coverage of the PGA Tour at Bay Hill earned a 2.2 overnight rating on NBC Sunday afternoon, according to ShowBuzz Daily — up a tick from last year (2.1), up 22% from 2014 (1.8), and the highest for any round of the tournament since third round action in 2013 (2.4).
According to Sports Business Daily, the final round had a 2.1 — which would match last year as the highest since 2013.
Regardless of which number is accurate, Sunday’s final round did well for a tournament that has struggled to draw without Tiger Woods. Excluding Woods’ most recent wins there (2013, 2012, 2009 and 2008), no round at Bay Hill has had a higher overnight since 2007 (2.5).
Woods, who has not played a round this season, skipped this year’s tournament. So did Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson, easily the two biggest draws left on tour. With the big names missing, it should be no surprise that Jason Day‘s win scored the second-lowest overnight of the season for final round coverage on broadcast (eight telecasts) — ahead of only Torrey Pines in January (1.7).
Third round action on Saturday drew a 1.3 per ShowBuzz, even with last year and up a tick from 2014. According to Sports Business Daily, it had a 1.4.
(Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily/Sports Business Daily)
