So much for Tiger Woods‘ absence sinking the Masters.
Second round coverage of The Masters scored a 2.2 final rating and 3.1 million viewers on ESPN Friday afternoon, per Nielsen fast-nationals — up a tick in ratings and 4% in viewership from last year (2.1, 3.0M) and up 22% and 24%, respectively, from 2014 (1.8, 2.5M).
The telecast ranks as the highest rated and most-watched second round of The Masters since 2013 (3.0, 4.2M), a sharp turnaround from Thursday’s opening round — which had year-over-year declines of 23% in ratings and 26% in viewership.
Go back further and the numbers look less impressive. Ratings and viewership were the third-lowest for second round coverage since ESPN began airing The Masters in 2008, ahead of only last year and 2014.
Locally, Greensville, SC (3.9), Louisville (3.7) and Columbus, OH (3.6) were the top markets for Friday coverage. Ft. Myers, Tampa-St. Petersburg and Knoxville rounded out the top five, each with a 3.5.
Coverage peaked at a 2.6 rating and 3.7 million viewers from 5:30-6 PM ET. Viewership data does not include streaming coverage on WatchESPN, which chipped in 49,000 viewers per minute.
(Fri. numbers from ESPN Media Zone)
