The numbers were still historically low, but the PGA Tour managed a big increase over the weekend.
Final round coverage of the PGA Tour John Deere Classic pulled a 1.1 final rating and 1.7 million viewers on CBS Sunday, up 57% in ratings and 50% in viewership from last year, when coverage aired the same day as the Olympic golf competition (0.7, 1.1M), but down 50% and 51% respectively from Jordan Spieth‘s playoff win in 2015 (2.2, 3.4M).
Of the 35 final round windows on broadcast this season, Bryson DeChambeau‘s win was just the fourth to post an increase in ratings and/or viewership. That comes with the caveat that last year’s numbers were artificially depressed by the unprecedented Olympic golf competition.
Even with the increase, the 1.1 rating is tied as the second-lowest for final round coverage of the tournament since at least 1998 — matching 2014 and ahead of only last year.
Not counting rain-delayed coverage at New Orleans, which posted a 1.1 rating and 1.6 million viewers, Sunday’s telecast was the lowest rated and least-watched final round of the season on broadcast.
Third round action on Saturday pulled a 0.8 and 1.2 million, up 60% in ratings and 64% in viewership from last year’s Olympic-depressed numbers (0.5, 738K) but down a third and 29% respectively from the Spieth-fueled performance in 2015 (1.2, 1.7M).
On a packed golf weekend, the John Deere Classic took the top two spots, topping the European Tour Scottish Open, U.S. Women’s Open and celebrity golf championship.
[Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily 7.19]
