The PGA ratings surge has slowed, but last weekend’s Hartford Open did well despite a double-digit drop.
Last Sunday’s final round of the PGA Tour Hartford Open earned a 2.0 rating and 3.1 million viewers on CBS, down 13% in ratings and 12% in viewership from last year (2.3, 3.5M) but up 122% and 117% respectively from 2016, when coverage aired opposite the Summer Olympics (0.9, 1.4M).
Compared to 2014, the last time the tournament faced the World Cup, ratings jumped 122% and viewership 133% from a 0.9 and 1.3 million.
The 2.0 rating is tied as the second-highest for final round coverage of the tournament since 2005 (2.2). Last year holds the top spot.
Even with the multi-year high, Sunday’s telecast continued a recent softening in PGA ratings. It was the fifth of the past 11 PGA Tour windows on broadcast television to post a decline, compared to just seven of the previous 33.
For the weekend, the final round was easily the highest rated and most-watched sporting event outside of the World Cup.
Third round action last Saturday pulled a 1.4 rating and 2.13 million viewers, flat in ratings and up 1% in viewership from last year (1.4, 2.11M) and up 100% and 124% respectively from 2016 (0.7, 950K).
Lead-in coverage on Golf Channel drew a 0.49 (-8%) and 716,000 (-9%) on Saturday and a 0.52 (-19%) and 781,000 (-16%) on Sunday.
[Numbers from Nielsen via ShowBuzz Daily 6.27]
