Ratings for the Northern Trust Open bounced back from last year’s Olympic-fueled low.
Final round coverage of the PGA Tour Northern Trust Open drew a 2.5 final rating and 3.7 million viewers on CBS Sunday, up 56% in ratings and 54% in viewership from last year opposite the Olympics (1.6, 2.4M), and tied with 2013 as the second-highest rated final round of the tournament since 2009. Only coverage in 2012 earned a better rating over that span (4.2).
The rating is less impressive the further one goes back. The 2.5 is tied as the fourth-lowest for final round coverage since at least 1996, ahead of only last year, 2010 (1.7) and 2011 (2.3), and the second-lowest when Winter Olympic years are excluded.
On Saturday, third round action drew a 1.5 and 2.2 million — up 50% in ratings and 47% in viewership from last year (1.0, 1.5M).
For the weekend, the final round was the most-watched sporting event on any network outside of the Daytona 500 on FOX (7.7, 13.4M), and the third round ranked fourth. The tournament was the second straight PGA Tour event to have double-digit gains on broadcast.
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily)
