With the PGA Tour needing all the help it can get to pull out of a months-long ratings spiral, the weather refused to cooperate.
Final round coverage of the PGA Tour Memorial Tournament earned a 1.9 final rating and 2.8 million viewers on CBS last Sunday, down 10% in ratings and 11% in viewership from last year (2.1, 3.2M) and down 17% in both measures from 2015 (2.3, 3.4M). Half of the CBS telecast was rained out, with the network carrying just 2 hours and 15 minutes of live coverage — the same length as the 3:15-5:30 PM rain delay.
Keeping that caveat in mind, the 1.9 rating is the lowest for final round coverage of the tournament since 2013 (1.8).
Ratings and viewership have now declined for every final round window on broadcast since Torrey Pines in January. All-but-two of those windows have tied or set a multi-year low in one or both measures.
Third round action last Saturday delivered a 1.4 and 2.1 million, down a tick in ratings and 2% in viewership from last year (1.5, 2.1M) but up 17% and 24% respectively from 2015 (1.2, 1.7M). Viewership has now declined for the past 28 PGA Tour windows on broadcast.
Lead-in coverage on Golf Channel had a 0.5 (-17%) and 739,000 on Saturday (-14%) and a 0.5 (-17%) and 783,000 (-17%) on Sunday. Golf Channel also earned 874,000 for the conclusion of play Sunday night after CBS signed off.
[Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily 6.6, Sports Business Daily 6.9]
