With Jordan Spieth out of contention and Phil Mickelson missing the cut, the PGA Championship put up weak numbers on CBS.
Final round coverage of the PGA Championship earned a 3.2 rating and 4.905 million viewers on CBS Sunday afternoon, down 6% in ratings and 7% in viewership from last year (3.4, 5.3M) and down 27% in both measures from 2015 (4.4, 6.7M).
The 3.2 rating is the worst for final round coverage of the tournament since 2008 (2.8) and the second-worst since at least 1981.
In addition to the ratings low, it was the least-watched final round since 2012 (4.88M). Not coincidentally, 2008 and 2012 are the last years the tournament aired opposite the Olympics.
Sunday’s telecast was also the least-watched final round of any major this season — narrowly trailing the British Open on NBC (4.910M) and the U.S. Open on FOX (5.1M). It fared better in ratings, tying the British Open and ahead of the U.S. Open (3.1).
Third round action on Saturday pulled a 2.2 and 3.2 million, down 21% and 24% respectively from 2015 (2.8, 4.2M). Last year’s third round was rained out, earning a 1.3 and 1.8 million. Excluding rainouts, it was the lowest rated and least-watched third round since 2012 (2.0, 2.8M).
Lead-in coverage on TNT had a 0.9 (-10%) and 1.3 million (-8%) on Saturday an a 0.9 (flat) and 1.4 million (flat) on Sunday. Second round action on Friday had 1.2 million, down 13% from last year (1.3M) and down 39% from 2015 (1.9M).
[Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily 8.15]
