2.4: 2020 Tour Championship Ratings Down But In Line With Return Events

Monday’s final round of the Tour Championship on NBC drew a 2.4 rating, essentially the same as the previous week’s BMW (2.23). However, that event finished later in the day and on a Sunday. It also featured arguably the most spectacular late dramatics since Tiger’s 2019 Masters win.

But the Tour Championship is also supposed to be the culmination of the PLAYOFFS(C) and now features an easier-to-follow, if flawed, format. Drawing a number consistent with other “Return to Golf” events might be disappointing to the event backers.

Also, TV folks say Labor Day Monday is generally tougher for ratings in normal times. Yet with fewer people traveling, not as many kids returning to school and absolutely no significant sports competition that day, this year’s edition seemed primed for a large audience.

The rating could be seen as a positive given that a fan-free East Lake was even more mojo-free than normal and the event lacked certain ratings draws.

Ratings positives courtesy of NBC and Golf Channel:

Monday Final Round on NBC:

Linear viewership (not TAD) for the final group’s back nine commercial-free stretch (3-6 p.m. ET, 4.007 million) down 9% vs. ‘19 (4.381 million).

Across four days:

Tour Championship live coverage across Golf Channel and NBC (2.000 million), +37% vs. 2019

Event average (Friday through Monday) on Golf Channel and NBC sees 2020 become second most-watched Tour Championship (behind ‘18) over past 20 years (2000-‘20). 

Most-watched with persons 25-54 since ‘12.

The Friday-to-Monday setup this year did allow Golf Channel to boast about Saturday’s second round cable ratings, even if the comparison wasn’t a perfect one given last year’s traditional Thursday-Sunday, non-pandemic situation.

The bigger question: if this is the second most-watched Tour Championship for the Golf Channel portion in twenty years, maybe the format and course still needs to be reviewed? Say, actual play-offs in the form of a 36-hole cut (with a sudden death playoff to advance) and another after 54 that injects just a bit more drama?

I realize such an idea means shaming players who have to go home early and, in normal times, giving fans fewer golfers to watch on site. But if this event wants to carry the playoff moniker, something (still) has to be done or else it will just rate like any old tournament.