PGA Tour ratings dropped yet again, but the Byron Nelson Classic did pretty well.
Final round coverage of the PGA Tour Byron Nelson Classic drew a 2.0 final rating and 2.9 million viewers on CBS Sunday, down 13% in ratings and 14% in viewership from last year (2.3, 3.4M) but up 25% and 21% respectively from 2015 (1.6, 2.4M).
Billy Horshel‘s playoff win over Jason Day tied the tournament’s second-best rating since 2005, when final round coverage pulled a 2.5. It matched 2006 and trailed only last year’s final round, which saw Jordan Spieth start the day in contention.
Despite the solid numbers, the tournament was just the latest PGA event to decline from last year. Not counting New Orleans (postponed) or Houston (tape-delayed), the past 14 final round windows on broadcast have declined from last year.
As a silver lining, it was just the fifth final round on broadcast this season to post an increase over 2015.
Third round action on Saturday was significantly weaker, sinking 26% in ratings (from 1.56 to 1.15) and 29% in viewership (from 2.3M to 1.6M). Lead-in coverage on Golf Channel had a 0.40 (-23%) and 560,000 (-20%) on Saturday and a 0.51 (-25%) and 733,000 (-20%) on Sunday.
(Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily 5.24)
