As true now as it was when Sean McManus said it nine years ago, Tiger Woods‘ impact on PGA Tour ratings is mathematical and predictable.
Francesco Molinari‘s eight-stroke win, in which Woods tied for fourth, was the highest rated round of the tournament since 2012. That year, final round coverage of Woods’ victory had a tournament-record 4.4.
Overall, the 2.3 rating is tied as the fourth-best in tournament history. This year marked the possible end of the National, which began in 2007 and is not expected to be on the 2019 schedule.
Third round coverage on Saturday had a 1.7 and 2.5 million, up 143% in ratings and 129% in viewership from last year (0.7, 1.1M) and up 42% and 44% respectively from 2016 (1.2, 1.7M). The 1.7 rating is tied as the highest for third round coverage since 2012.
“The Tiger Effect” has consistently boosted PGA Tour ratings all season. Woods has played 20 rounds on broadcast television this season and all-but-one has posted an increase in ratings and viewership. The lone exception was the final round of the Memorial, which aired mostly on tape-delay.
Lead-in coverage on Golf Channel had a 0.7 rating (+147%) and 1.0 million (+142%) on Saturday and a 0.8 (+163%) and 1.3 million (+162%) on Sunday. Golf Channel also drew 475,000 for Friday’s second round, up 14% from last year (416K), up 16% from 2016 (408K) and the highest since Woods’ last appearance in the tournament three years ago (525K).
As previously reported, Thursday’s opening round also hit a three-year high.
Ratings For PGA Tour Telecasts Featuring Tiger Woods
Broadcast TV only
| Tournament | Tiger Finish |
Day | Rtg. | +/- | Vwrs. | +/- | Net |
| Torrey Pines | T23 | Sat | 2.1 | +75% | 3.13M | +65% | CBS |
| Sun | 2.6 | +30% | 4.06M | +32% | |||
| Honda Classic | 12th | Sat | 1.7 | +42% | 2.44M | +33% | CBS |
| Sun | 2.6 | +44% | 4.01M | +45% | |||
| Tampa Bay | T2 | Sat | 2.8 | +155% | 4.31M | +160% | NBC |
| Sun | 4.4 | +193% | 6.91M | +201% | |||
| Bay Hill | T5 | Sat | 2.0 | +82% | 3.05M | +91% | NBC |
| Sun | 3.2 | +129% | 4.96M | +134% | |||
| Masters | T32 | Sat | 5.3 | +23% | 8.14M | +26% | CBS |
| Sun | 7.9 | +16% | 13.03M | +18% | |||
| Quail Hollow | T55 | Sat | 1.3 | +44% | 1.80M | +37% | CBS |
| Sun | 1.9 | +36% | 2.90M | +36% | |||
| The Players | T11 | Sat | 2.3 | +18% | 3.36M | +19% | NBC |
| Sun | 3.6 | +57% | 5.77M | +56% | |||
| The Memorial | T23 | Sat | 1.8 | +29% | 2.63M | +25% | CBS |
| Sun* | 1.6 | -16% | 2.35M | -16% | |||
| U.S. Open | CUT | Thu | 1.5 | +50% | 2.15M | +41% | FOX |
| Fri | 1.5 | +15% | 2.09M | +9% | |||
| The National | T4 | Sat | 1.7 | +143% | 2.49M | +129% | CBS |
| Sun | 2.3 | +92% | 3.58M | +89% |
* Final round was moved up to avoid rain; most coverage was tape delayed
[Weekend numbers from Nielsen via ShowBuzz Daily 7.3]
