PGA Tour ratings are on the rise this season, bucking the industry-wide trend.
Sunday’s final round of the PGA Tour Arnold Palmer Invitational averaged a 2.4 rating and 3.86 million viewers on NBC, the highest for the event in three years (2018: 3.2, 4.96M). Ratings jumped 41% and viewership 49% from last year (1.7, 2.59M).
Including Saturday’s third round, which increased 24% and 41% respectively to a 1.6 and 2.51 million, eight of the last ten PGA Tour windows on broadcast television have posted an increase in ratings and/or viewership — including six that have increased by double figures.
The strong showing is a continuation from last year, when the PGA Tour was one of the only sports properties to post consistent increases after the wave of cancellations and postponements that began a year ago this week. That momentum did not carry over to the majors, with last September’s US Open and last November’s Masters both at all-time lows.
Lead-in coverage on Golf Channel averaged a 0.6 (+35%) and 913,000 (+43%) on Saturday and a 0.7 (+60%) and 1.19 million (+78%) on Sunday.
Keep in mind that ratings are up despite the continued absence of Tiger Woods, who following a serious car accident last month is unlikely to compete again anytime soon.
PGA Tour ratings, viewership, on broadcast this season
| Tourn. | Round | Net | Rtg. | +/- | Vwrs. | +/- |
| Torrey Pines | Third | CBS | 1.3 | -28% | 2.03M | -23% |
| Final | CBS | 2.0 | -9% | 3.12M | -4% | |
| Phoenix | Third | CBS | 1.5 | flat | 2.24M | +2% |
| Final | CBS | 2.1 | +20% | 3.69M | +29% | |
| Pebble Beach | Third | CBS | 1.5 | -6% | 2.37M | -1% |
| Final | CBS | 2.55 | +12% | 4.19M | +20% | |
| L.A. (Riviera) | Third* | CBS | 0.9 | — | 1.40M | — |
| Final | CBS | 2.2 | +10% | 3.62M | +17% | |
| Bradenton, Fla.** | Third | NBC | 1.35 | +15% | 2.15M | +25% |
| Final | NBC | 1.8 | flat | 2.93M | +5% | |
| Bay Hill | Third | NBC | 1.6 | +24% | 2.51M | +41% |
| Final | NBC | 2.4 | +41% | 3.86M | +49% |
* Includes two hours of weather delay coverage.
** Replacement for the usual Mexico City tournament.
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 3.9]
