It’s been quite the rollercoaster for PGA Tour viewing figures over 2024 so far, but the numbers for the final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans are on the encouraging side.
Per Sports Business Journal’s Josh Carpenter, an average 1.852 million viewers watched Sunday’s action at TPC Louisiana as Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry closed out victory over Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer in a playoff.
Sunday’s final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, won by Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, drew 1.852M viewers on CBS, up 26% from last year (1.470M). It’s the most-watched final round for the event since ’21 and second-best since 2015. Coverage peaked near 2.8M. pic.twitter.com/bVaIe6IbSbApril 30, 2024
That’s a 26% improvement on the final round of the 2023 tournament, which was won by Nick Hardy and Davis Riley, where 1.47 million tuned in. It’s also the second best since 2015.
There is little doubt that the involvement of McIlroy will have been a big draw. The World No.2 has struggled for his best form on the PGA Tour this season, but his maiden appearance at the unique team event, which came about after a “drunken lunch” with Lowry, proved inspired.
With Lowry’s help, the 34-year-old claimed his 25th career victory on the PGA Tour, moving him to T23 on the all-time list and beyond Dustin Johnson and Gary Player, and the TV watching public responded.
The increased viewing figures will be a boost to the PGA Tour, particularly after some disappointing numbers elsewhere this season, which some players, including McIlroy, have put down to the fractures in the men’s elite game.
One of the early warning signs that armchair fans could be losing interest came in February at the Genesis Invitational, when 5% fewer watched Hideki Matsuyama claim victory then had seen Jon Rahm win the year before.
Hideki Matsuyama’s win at the Genesis Invitational did not translate to improved viewing figures
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Further disappointing figures followed, most notably the final round of The Players Championship, which was watched by 17% fewer than a year earlier despite some big names going for victory before World No.1 Scottie Scheffler eventually took the title.
The Valspar Championship also saw a drop before there was finally some respite at the Valero Texas Open….
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