Phil Mickelson’s stunning win at the PGA Championship gave the event its highest ratings since Tiger Woods’ near-miss three years ago.
Final round coverage of the PGA Championship, in which Mickelson become the oldest major golf champion in history at age 50, averaged a 3.9 rating and 6.58 million viewers on CBS — the highest rating and viewership for the event since Tiger Woods finished second in 2018 (5.4, 8.47M).
Ratings increased 19% and viewership 28% from last year, when the event took place in August (3.3, 5.15M) and 19% and 31% respectively from 2019, when it previously took place in May (3.3, 5.01M).
Mickelson’s win, which peaked with 13.05 million from 7-7:15 PM ET, delivered the second-largest golf audience of any kind since the sport went on hiatus last year, behind the final round of this year’s April Masters (5.5, 9.45M) and ahead of the final round of last year’s November Masters (3.4, 5.59M).
It was also the top sporting event of the weekend, topping the competing Lakers-Suns NBA playoff game on ABC (2.4, 4.43M). The NBA game won the head-to-head in adults 18-49 (1.90M to 1.45M), 18-34 (818K to 528K) and 25-54 (1.99M to 1.78M), but the PGA dominated in the 50+ demo in which Mickelson resides (4.93M to 2.16M).
Third round coverage on Saturday averaged a 2.3 and 3.81 million, up 10% in ratings and 16% in viewership from last year (2.1, 3.28M) and the highest since 2018 (3.2, 4.78M). In the fast-nationals released by CBS on Sunday, the third round averaged 3.52 million. Keep in mind fast-nationals do not include out-of-home viewing, meaning an out-of-home lift of 8% for Saturday’s telecast.
The increases are no small feat given last year’s PGA Championship was contested on the West Coast and bled into primetime. It also included Tiger Woods.
Lead-in coverage on ESPN averaged a 0.8 (-38%) and 1.23 million (-37%) on Sunday and a 0.8 (-41%) and 1.20 million (-41%) on Saturday. Keep in mind last year’s windows aired later in the day and included Woods.
In other ESPN action, Friday’s second round pulled a 0.9 and 1.43 million — down 24% in ratings and 20% in viewership from last year (1.2, 1.80M) and the smallest audience for the round since 2018 (1.38M).
[Some Nielsen estimates from CBS, ESPN]
