Tiger Woods has made many returns from a lengthy hiatus, but his first televised golf after a near-fatal car accident generated more eyeballs than most.
Weekend coverage of the PGA Tour Father/Son Challenge, featuring Woods and his son Charlie, averaged a 1.4 rating and 2.34 million viewers on NBC Saturday and a 1.3 and 2.24 million on Sunday — the two highest rated and most-watched telecasts of the event since it returned to the schedule in 2012.
Saturday’s telecast increased 55% in ratings and viewership from last year (0.9, 1.51M) and soared more-than-threefold over 2019 (0.46, 665K). Excluding majors and the Ryder Cup, it was the most-watched Saturday golf telecast since the Players Championship (3.26M).
Sunday’s telecast jumped 37% and 49% respectively from last year (1.0, 1.50M) and also rose more-than-threefold from 2019 (0.38, 523K).
A Friday pro-am averaged a 0.22 and 326,000 on Golf Channel.
Woods had not played competitive golf since suffering serious leg injuries in a February car crash. His previous tournament appearance was at last year’s Father/Son Challenge. Woods has had several extended breaks from golf over the past decade, but it was an open question whether he would ever play again after the crash.
For the weekend, the Father/Son Challenge was of course no match for the NFL and also trailed Saturday’s three college football bowl games on ABC. It was the top non-football sportscast, though such pickings are slim this time of year.
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 12.21]
