As is to be expected, overnight ratings surged for Tiger Woods‘ latest PGA Tour victory.
Final round coverage of the WGC-Cadillac Championship earned a 4.4 overnight rating on NBC Sunday afternoon, up 44% from last year (3.1), and up 83% from 2011 (2.4).
The 4.4 is the highest overnight for final round coverage of the event since it moved to its current date in 2007, and the highest for the annual event at Doral since Woods’ victory at the 2006 Ford Championship (5.0).
In addition, the 4.4 is the highest of the season for any professional golf event. The previous high was a 3.7 for Sunday coverage of the Farmers Insurance Open, Woods’ previous victory this season.
Sunday’s final round tied the NASCAR Sprint Cup race from Las Vegas as the highest rated sporting event on the weekend in the metered markets. Of course, as NASCAR tends to rise from the overnight to the final, the race will likely stand alone as the top draw then the finals are released later this week.
On Saturday, third round action earned a 3.0 overnight — up 36% from last year (2.2), up 114% from 2011 (1.4), and the highest for the tournament since 2005 (3.5).
The WGC-Cadillac Championship ended a streak of eight straight pro golf telecasts to have declines in overnight ratings.
Overnights For WGC-CA Championship
Past decade
(Weekend overnights from Sports Business Daily)
