• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, October 14, 2025

McIlroy Boosts Players Championship TV Ratings Despite Weather Delay

The final round of the Players Championship was delayed four hours by weather, but TV ratings were still strong as viewers tuned in to see Rory McIlroy win another tournament.

Rory McIlroy arrives on the tee box on the 16th hole to compete in a three-hole aggregate playoff of the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass Monday March 17, 2025 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl. McIlroy won his second Players Championship at +1 over J.J. Spaun.
Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union

Rory McIlroy’s star power was on display at the Players Championship, which saw its final-round TV ratings increase from 2024, despite a four-hour weather delay, with the Northern Irishman surging up the leaderboard Sunday en route to victory.

NBC averaged 3.6 million viewers for Sunday’s broadcast, up from an audience of 3.5 million last year when Scottie Scheffler won his second straight Players Championship. In 2023, NBC averaged 4.1 million viewers.

Golf Channel averaged 908,000 viewers for the first portion of the final round from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (all times ET); tee times were moved up several hours in an attempt to conclude play before rain. NBC picked up coverage for only 45 minutes before play was suspended at 1:15 p.m. The final round resumed at 5:15 p.m. and ended just after 7:30 p.m. with McIlroy and J.J. Spaun tied at 12 under par. 

On Monday morning, Golf Channel aired the three-hole playoff that McIlroy won, which earned him a record-tying $4.5 million first-place prize. TV ratings for the playoff are not yet available.

The Rory Bump

McIlroy’s other victory on the PGA Tour this season also brought a spike in TV ratings. 

Last month, CBS drew 3.33 million viewers for the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which McIlroy won by two shots over Shane Lowry. That was up 47% from the final round in 2023; the 2024 final round was canceled due to weather. It’s also the biggest TV ratings increase for any of the PGA Tour’s four signature events so far this season.

After the victory at TPC Sawgrass, McIlroy has the second-best betting odds at most sportsbooks to win the Masters next month, behind Scottie Scheffler. In 2024, TV ratings for the final round at Augusta National dropped 20% year over year, as 9.59 million viewers watched Scheffler win his second Green Jacket by four shots over Ludvig Åberg.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links GC sits during a break in their TGL golf match against Atlanta Drive GC at SoFi Center on March 4, 2025, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Latest Tiger Woods Surgery Bad News for TGL, PGA Tour Champions

Woods is recovering from his seventh back surgery in 11 years.
Oregon Ducks inside linebacker Will Straton celebrates a stop as the Oregon Ducks host the Oregon State Beavers Sept. 20, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.

CBS Eyes Breakthrough As Big Ten Ratings Still Lag Behind SEC

The network will air No. 7 Indiana at No. 3 Oregon on Saturday.

Amazon Adds Golf to Its Packed Black Friday Sports Lineup With NFL,..

On Nov. 28, The Skins Game will return for the first time since 2008.
[US, Mexico, & Canada customers only] Mar 16, 2025; Singapore, SINGAPORE; Joaquin Niemann in action during the final round of LIV Golf Singapore at Sentosa Golf Club.

LIV Golf Lost $461M in Non-U.S. Operations in 2024

Public financial filings were released this week in the U.K.

Featured Today

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with her teammates after her last second shot to take the lead 90-88 against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Oct. 8, 2025.
exclusive

Standoff Over WNBA’s Future Has Dominated Finals

CBA negotiations have stolen the spotlight from the Aces’ dominant performance.
Paul Cartier
October 5, 2025

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Sep 5, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Novak Djokovic of Serbia embraces after their match in the semifinal of the men’s singles at the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Six Kings Slam Returns With Record $6M Prize, Netflix Deal

The Six Kings Slam is held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Aces
October 10, 2025

WNBA Finals Most Viewed In 25 Years Despite Possible Aces Sweep

Games 2 and 3 have averaged more than 1.2 million viewers.
Mar 5, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of the NBA logo and NBA app logo and basketballs in front of the base during warms up before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Suns at the American Airlines Center.
October 13, 2025

NBA Will Take Over League Pass After WBD Divorce

The league now has full operational control of those media assets.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
Spectrum
October 10, 2025

ESPN Streaming Service at Core of New Spectrum Plan

The No. 1 U.S. distributor further blends linear and streaming TV.
exclusive
October 10, 2025

Alyssa Lang Joins ESPN NBA Sideline Reporter Ranks

Lang has been a host and reporter for ESPN and SEC Network since 2018.
Netflix
October 9, 2025

Netflix Claims Bigger NFL Package ‘Doesn’t Really Fit’ Sports Strategy

Roger Goodell has signaled media-rights conversations could restart next year.
Dana Evans
October 8, 2025

WNBA Starts Finals With Best Viewership Since Inaugural Season

Game 1 averaged 1.9 million viewers on ESPN.