The Ryder Cup stays in Europe! The biggest biennial event of the 2023 golf has ended with a blast. The Europeans finished with grace and fine gameplay. Team US could not come out of their 30-year-long drought of not winning on European soil since 1993.
As the fans criticize various parts of the game, recently the low viewership was under scrutiny and the public had their reasons!
The decreasing Ryder Cup viewership
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The Americans failed to retain their Ryder Cup. The event ended at a 16.5-11.5 scoreline. Even though the players gave their all, something was missing. Throughout the whole event, there were controversies and excellent gameplay, and players were applauded and criticized the next day.
As the intensity of the game increased, the attention of the casual fans decreased. Yes, this might come as a surprise, but the viewership of the 2023 Ryder Cup was comparably extremely low.
Golf journalist Josh Carpenter from Sports Business Journal, shared the analytics about the viewership that was attracted to this year’s Ryder Cup. And the numbers were shocking but obvious. There was a 1.5 million less audience watching the Ryder Cup on NBC as compared to the 2018 event in France.
Pretty sizeable drop in Ryder Cup viewership on NBC:
Saturday: 1.414M
Sunday: 1.315MLast European Ryder Cup (2018 in France):
Sunday: 2.467M
Saturday: 2.116M pic.twitter.com/qdtTNmZevO— Josh Carpenter (@JoshACarpenter) October 3, 2023
Whether it was the plethora of commercials or the sadistic performance by the American players, the fans shared everything that annoyed them the most. Let us dive in and read a few fan tweets!
‘0-4 start will do that”, fans react to low viewership numbers on NBC
This one fan said that there is a detachment between the players because of the organization’s shabby games. This may make the game slow and unwatchable.
The ratings this year almost reflect the amount of folks that have become divided in the world of golf. Wonder if the powers that be can finally admit the current disconnect amongst players they've created and their petty games isn't the way? If not the game will continue to…
— Jim (@Cakalacman) October 3, 2023
Another noted the amount of commercials advertised throughout the event was awfully a lot. The ads broke the rhythm of the game and no one likes to watch that.
Maybe people don’t want to watch 2/3’s of the event through the little “playing through” box on the left side of the screen while being inundated with the audio from American Express or whatever…
— Jonathan Sabin (@jonathanwsabin) October 3, 2023
One made fun of American fans and said that it was because Team US was losing and Americans did not want to watch it.
Americans didn’t want to watch them lose….wow that does surprise me 😜
— David Povey (@davepovey) October 3, 2023
Another highlighted that the abrupt commercial caused missing important shots and also blamed the commentators for being bad altogether.
I am one of the biggest golf fans. I routinely watch PGA and LPGA. NBC has made golf unwatchable. The commercial interruptions, playing through when the most crucial shots are on happening, and Paul Azinger being terrible are all the reasons I didn't watch much.
— Peter (@p_bio1) October 3, 2023
This evidently European fan took a jibe at the American fans and said he wouldn’t have watched the poor performance too.
If I was American, I wouldn’t have wanted to watch either 🙈
— Alex Lundy (@Alundy87) October 3, 2023
Another exclaimed that the decision to not involve LIV Golf players in the tournament resulted in terrible gameplay, hence the fans did not tune in.
This is totally on the PGA TOUR… Instead of seeing an opportunity to grow the game… They decided to try and crush anyone that had anything to do with LIV… This RYDER CUP.. SIMPLY DIDNT HAVE ALL THE BEST PLAYERS…That’s why the ratings are way down…
— @HankReardon44 (@HANKREARDONHANK) October 3, 2023
This fan said that there was a lack of promotion prior to the event and compared it to promotions run by the NFL. Many did not have any clue that the cup had started.
Honestly, I didn't know it was going on until I heard a radio report with the day one results. I didn't see any advanced promotion of the event, but I saw an abundance of NFL & college football promos. Those dominated the airways.
— Dwayne Butler (@enyawd59) October 3, 2023
This fan claimed that a dominant 4-0 by the European players had possibly discouraged the American audience from watching.
An 0-4 start will do that!
— {{Jordan Bergeson}} (@jburrrg) October 3, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
This fan blasted the uneventful game by Team US and the unpleasant coverage by NBC Sports to be the cause of low viewership.
US play + hot garbage coverage by @NBCSports
— home cookn (@whydonchatryit) October 3, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The reason could be many, the broadcasters and organizers alike can take notes and improve it next year. What were the things that bothered you? Was it American gameplay or the numerous commercials? Tell us in the comments!