Tiger Woods did not have the impact on opening round Masters ratings that he did last year.
Thursday’s opening round of the Masters earned a 1.7 rating and 2.48 million viewers on ESPN, per Nielsen fast-nationals — down 15% in ratings and 16% in viewership from last year, which marked Woods’ return to the event after a three-year absence (2.0, 2.97M), but up 13% and 17% respectively from 2017 (1.5, 2.13M).
Despite Woods’ presence, the telecast ranks only eighth out of the 12 opening round Masters telecasts on ESPN (dates back to 2008). The only years with a smaller audience were 2008 and three years in which Woods did not play — 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Of the 23 total Masters telecasts on ESPN, it is tied for 20th in ratings and ranks 18th in viewership.
Ratings declined despite Woods’ improved play. He finished the first round in a tie for 11th place, four shots off the lead. Last year, by comparison, he finished round one in a tie for 29th, seven shots off the lead. Keep in mind that last year’s numbers were lifted by Woods’ return.
Greenville, S.C., led all markets with a 4.6 rating. Minneapolis-St. Paul was second (4.4), followed by Buffalo (3.8), Ft. Myers, Fla. (3.6) and Columbus, Ohio (3.4).
[Numbers from ESPN]
