With coverage airing on a 20-minute delay, the final round of The Memorial had a modest decline from last year.
Tape delayed final round coverage of the PGA Tour Memorial Tournament earned a 2.1 final rating and 3.2 million viewers on CBS last Sunday afternoon, down 9% in ratings and 6% in viewership from last year (2.3, 3.4M) but up 5% and 9%, respectively, from 2014 (2.0, 2.9M).
The tournament was the sixth of the past nine to post a decline in final round ratings (not including rainout coverage at New Orleans). It also marked a turnaround from the previous two weeks, when both the Byron Nelson and Colonial set or tied multi-year highs.
Of note, Jordan Spieth contended at the Byron Nelson, won the Colonial, but finished in a tie for 57th at the Memorial.
The modest decline came after double-digit gains for live third round coverage the previous day. That telecast had a 1.5 and 2.1 million, up 25% in ratings and 26% in viewership from last year (1.2, 1.7M) and up 15% and 20%, respectively, from 2014 (1.3, 1.8M).
It was the fourth straight tournament to post a double-digit increase in third round ratings.
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily)
