The 2024 PGA Tour season was a thrilling ride, with Scottie Scheffler’s Tiger Woods-like dominance and Xander Schauffele’s major breakthroughs grabbing headlines. But behind the scenes, a different story was unfolding – one that could have major implications for the tour’s future. As the Sentry Tournament of Champions approaches, Jay Monahan and Co. are bracing themselves for a potentially dismal TV ratings report.

The numbers from 2024 are already cause for concern, per the latest report by SBJ. Despite Scheffler’s incredible run, the tour’s Sunday telecasts averaged 2.2 million viewers, a 19% drop from 2023. Saturday viewership wasn’t much better, with a 17% decline to 1.5 million viewers. The trend continues across networks, with NBC and CBS both experiencing significant dips in viewership. So, what’s behind this slump? The absence of big names like Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Jordan Spieth from certain tournaments is certainly a factor. With these stars missing, it’s likely that TV ratings will take another hit – potentially dropping even further than the 5% decline in 2024.

But here’s the thing: the PGA Tour is on the cusp of a major shift in how TV ratings are measured. With Nielsen’s new “big data” measurement system, which incorporates streaming and OTT platforms, the tour’s numbers could be about to get a significant boost. In fact, Nielsen estimates that the tour’s weekend broadcast coverage could see a 20% increase in viewership under the new system.

That’s a game-changer, and it could be just what the tour needs to turn its TV ratings slump around.

Viewership woes are nothing new to the PGA Tour

The 2024 PGA Tour season has seen a mix of ups and downs in terms of viewership. While the tour’s designated events have been a bright spot, with seven out of eight events seeing a year-over-year increase in viewership, the overall numbers tell a different story. The tour averaged 2.2 million viewers for its Sunday telecasts, excluding majors, in 2024, a significant drop of 19% from 2.7 million in 2023. This decline is notable, especially considering the tour’s efforts to boost viewership through various initiatives. However, it’s worth noting that when majors are included, the Sunday viewership number jumps to 2.8 million, which suggests that the tour’s biggest events are still drawing in large audiences.

Despite the decline in overall viewership, there are some positive trends to note. The tour’s designated events, such as the Wells Fargo Championship, have been performing well in terms of viewership. This suggests that the tour’s strategy of elevating certain events and providing more clarity around the schedule is paying off. Additionally, Saturday viewership, while down 17% from last year, still averaged 1.5 million viewers, which is a respectable number. As the tour continues to navigate the changing media landscape, these numbers will be worth keeping an eye on to see how the tour adapts and evolves to meet the changing needs and habits of golf fans.