Ratings sank from last year’s Tiger-fueled highs, but the Arnold Palmer Invitational still scored better-than-usual numbers on NBC.
Last Sunday’s final round of the PGA Tour Arnold Palmer Invitational earned a 2.0 rating and 3.07 million viewers on NBC, down 38% in ratings and viewership from last year, when Tiger Woods finished in the top five (3.2, 4.96M), but up 43% and 45% respectively from 2017 (1.4, 2.12M).
Francesco Molinari‘s win trails only last year as the most-watched final round of the tournament since 2012, when Woods won (6.5M).
Keep in mind that this year marked the first time since 2008 that the event did not coincide with the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. In addition, Woods has played the tournament only twice since 2012 — last year and in 2013, when final round coverage was pushed back to Monday due to rain.
Third round action last Saturday pulled a 1.4 and 2.19 million, down 30% in ratings and 28% in viewership from last year (2.0, 3.05M), but up 27% and 37% respectively from 2017 (1.1, 1.60M).
Through last weekend, nine of 14 PGA Tour windows on broadcast television have declined.
Lead-in coverage on Golf Channel had a 0.48 (-44%) and 713,000 (-43%) on Saturday and a 0.6 (-33%) and 892,000 (-34%) on Sunday.
[Numbers from Nielsen via ShowBuzz Daily 3.12, NBC Sports PR 3.12]
