Despite Getting KOed by Bryson DeChambeau, Jay Monahan’s PGA Tour Gets Massive Approval From Golf Fans

Jay Monahan and Co. can finally take a sigh of relief. Breaking the curses of sinking viewership counts and rising complaints concerning the unsteady broadcasting experience is this new update, thanks to the might of Scottie Scheffler. The World No. 1’s recent win at TPC River Highlands has received an upward stride in terms of viewership numbers.

Having lost the U.S. Open trophy to LIV Golf pro-Bryson DeChambeau, a win that got NBC an influx of 5.9 million viewers on Sunday at Pinehurst No. 2, this latest update acts as a positive affirmation for a tensed Monahan dealing with the loss of viewership in the past few months. To his relief, it has been reported that CBS has seen a surge in viewers for Scottie Scheffler’s win at the Travelers Championship.

Amassing 2.607 million viewers, this feat is a 7% leg up from the Tour’s broadcasting performance featuring Keegan Bradley in the 2023 edition of the signature event, proving that these elevated events might hold the key to the tricky lock of disappointed fans that the PGA Tour faces.

The numbers are even slightly higher than the 2022 edition as well, which garnered a total of 2.585 million for Xander Schauffele’s win, almost 22,000 viewers short of what Scottie Scheffler’s breathtaking performance could garner. Additionally, Sunday peaked in the viewership charts when the lively and sportsmanship-filled playoff between Scottie Scheffler and Tom Kim gathered a whopping 4.330 million viewers!

As the TPC River Highland-based event puts an end to the signature events on this year’s calendar, it seems Jay Monahan and Co.’s newfound efforts to change the existing dynamics of the PGA Tour have started to receive fans’ validation. But what seems to have done the trick, broadcasting-wise?

What were some changes introduced to the broadcasting experience at the Travelers Championship?

Well, apart from the exciting Scheffler-Kim playoff after the duo reached a cutting-edge score of 22-under-par, a crucial role was also played by CBS’s newfound inclination towards more technology-centered PGA Tour broadcasting reforms. The newest experiment carried out was airing a moving drone shot for the first time during the third round of the $20 million prize purse event.

It sounds innovative, doesn’t it? Well, this is not CBS’s sole attempt to change the dynamics of the viewers’ experience using technology. This was simply an extension of CBS’s attempts to inculcate innovative tech-based practices to enhance the broadcast experience. Previously, it has taken steps like the use of new swing analysis tools, walk-and-talk interviews, and reverse tracers to meet this goal.

Further, the unexpected protest by climate activists during Scheffler’s round also garnered a lot of attention in the golfing world, potentially influencing the viewer count. It’s yet to be seen if the tour manages to keep growing with the new reforms it has in mind for the signature events in the season to follow. For now, this hike in viewership sounds like a respite to a recovering Jay Monahan, who was still dealing with how LIV Golf’s Bryson DeChambeau swept the major title from under his feet.