With the PGA Tour on a ratings hot streak since returning from hiatus, it is no surprise that the season’s first major got off to a strong start.
Thursday’s first round of the PGA Championship averaged a 0.8 rating and 1.25 million viewers on ESPN, marking the tournament’s largest opening round audience since 2015 (1.40M) and its second-largest since 2010 (1.45M).
Ratings increased a tick and viewership 24% from last year’s coverage on TNT (0.7, 990K). Compared to 2018, the last time the tournament took place in August, Thursday’s viewership increased 27% (from 979K).
The telecast, which peaked with 1.51 million viewers from 7:15-7:30 PM ET, held an average of at least one million viewers in every quarter-hour from 4-10 PM ET.
The five-year high is no surprise given all of the factors working in the tournament’s favor. Originally scheduled for May, this year’s PGA is the first major of the season. It comes amidst a run of improved ratings for the PGA Tour, which has seen viewership rise double-digits since play resumed in June. In addition, it is taking place on the West Coast for the first time since 1998, giving CBS and ESPN the ability to air live coverage in primetime.
Tampa-St. Petersburg led all markets Thursday with a 1.8 rating, followed close behind by West Palm Beach (1.7). Host market the Bay Area tied for third with Charlotte (1.4). Jacksonville, San Diego and Kansas City tied for fifth (1.3).
[Nielsen estimates from ESPN, ESPN PR 8.7]
