Tiger Woods‘ first tournament of 2019 was no match for last year.
Sunday’s final round of the PGA Tour at Torrey Pines earned a 2.0 rating and 3.04 million viewers on CBS, down 23% in ratings and 25% in viewership from last year (2.6, 4.06M) and flat and down 1% respectively from 2017 (2.0, 3.08M).
Justin Rose‘s win marked the least-watched final round of the tournament in three years (2016: 2.28M). It also tied the third-lowest final round rating in more than 20 years.
Viewership declined despite Tiger Woods shooting a final round 67, his best round at Torrey Pines since his 2013 victory there. He finished in a tie for 20th, also his best result at the tournament since 2013.
Keep in mind that last year’s tournament marked Woods’ return to competitive golf after missing most of the 2017 season.
Third round action the previous day had a 1.4 and 2.15 million — down a third in ratings and 31% in viewership from last year (2.1, 3.13M), but up 17% and 13% respectively from 2017 (1.2, 1.90M).
Lead-in coverage on Golf Channel had a 0.46 (-44%) and 645,000 (-47%) on Saturday and a 0.59 (-37%) and 880,000 (-36%) on Sunday.
As previously noted, first and second round coverage on Golf Channel declined 19% and 26%, respectively.
[Numbers from Nielsen via ShowBuzz Daily 1.30]
