ESPN drew another near-record audience for coverage of The Masters on Friday, but the numbers were not quite as good as they were the day before.
Second round coverage of The Masters drew a 2.8 U.S. rating and 3.9 million viewers on ESPN Friday afternoon, according to Nielsen fast-nationals. Friday’s telecast was up 17% in ratings and 12% in viewership from last year (2.4, 3.5 mil), and up 4% and 10%, respectively, from 2008 (2.7, 3.5 mil).
Compared to Thursday’s first round coverage, the telecast was down 18% and 21%, respectively, from a 3.4 and 4.9 million viewers.
This marks the third-most viewed golf telecast ever on cable, behind Thursday’s first round and the 2008 U.S. Open playoff between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate.
ESPN now owns five of the six most-viewed golf telecasts in cable history.
(ESPN)
