Despite a celebrated team format and a star-studded field, last weekend’s New Orleans Classic ended a two-month PGA ratings surge.
Last Sunday’s final round of the PGA Tour New Orleans Classic earned a 1.0 rating and 1.5 million viewers on CBS, down a tick in ratings and 4% in viewership from last year, when coverage aired on tape delay to avoid rain (1.1, 1.6M), but up 43% and 50% respectively from 2016 — when coverage was rained out altogether (0.7, 1.0M).
Compared to the last time coverage aired as scheduled — 2015 — ratings fell 38% (from 1.6) and viewership 35% (from 2.4M).
Saturday’s third round action also declined, falling 23% in ratings (to 0.9) and 21% in viewership (to 1.2M).
The declines were the first for the PGA on broadcast television in nearly two months — since the third round of the WGC-Mexico Championship — snapping a streak of 15 straight increases.
In addition, the telecasts rank as the two lowest rated PGA rounds on broadcast all season, each falling below the previous marks of 1.1 and 1.6 million for the third round at Texas a week earlier.
The New Orleans Classic changed formats last year to become the first official team event on the PGA Tour since 1981. The new format has been generally well-received and helped the tournament attract a stronger field. This year’s event included ten of the world’s top fifteen players, including the four reigning major winners. Yet none of that has made a marked difference on the ratings.
Lead-in coverage on Golf Channel had a 0.24 rating (-25%) and 332,000 (-26%) on Saturday and a 0.30 and 427,000 on Sunday.
[Numbers from Nielsen via ShowBuzz Daily 5.4; additional info from USA Today 4.25]
