With Tiger Woods in Contention, Valspar Championship Becomes Most-Streamed PGA Tour Event Ever for the Golf Channel

A look at the final leaderboard from the Valspar Championship (Photo via Golf Channel PR)

Whether or not you like Tiger Woods, you can’t deny that the guy drives ratings.

After shooting an electrifying nine under and dropping in a forty-four-foot bomb to get himself within one of the lead on Sunday, the excitement around Tiger Woods and his game was palpable across most social media channels.

Haven’t screamed like that on a putt in at least five years #Tiger

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) March 11, 2018

Where there is excitement on social media, there is excitement in TV ratings, and for the Golf Channel and NBC Sports, the numbers didn’t disappoint.

Final round lead-in coverage on @GolfChannel (1-3p ET) earned a 1.65 Overnight rating, becoming the highest-rated Golf Channel PGA TOUR lead-in telecast on record (2009-‘18). As for NBC’s coverage, the 3-6p ET slot earned a 5.11 Overnight rating, making it the highest Highest-rated (non-major) PGA TOUR broadcast since 2013 Players Champ (5.7). Sunday’s Final RD also highest-rated golf telecast (outside of the Masters) since 2015 PGA Champ (5.14).

This is one of the best college bball weekends of the year. And I'm watching the Valspar Championship. What a world we live in. #Tiger

— Matt Barnes (@Matt_NBC4) March 10, 2018

Not only were TV ratings high, so too were streaming numbers.

Over the course of the four days, the @ValsparChamp saw 27.2 million minutes streamed across Golf Channel / NBC Sports Digital platforms, becoming most-streamed PGA TOUR event ever for the network, and 4th most streamed golf event overall for NBC Sports behind the 2016 & 2017 Open, along w/ 2016 Ryder Cup.

VIEWERSHIP: Final RD coverage of @ValsparChamp on NBC (3-6p ET) earned a 5.11 Overnight rating. Highest-rated (non-major) PGA TOUR broadcast since 2013 Players Champ (5.7). Sunday’s Final RD also highest-rated golf telecast (outside of the Masters) since 2015 PGA Champ (5.14). pic.twitter.com/GnD85Cx7R0

— Golf Channel PR (@GolfChannelPR) March 12, 2018

Say what you want about young guns like Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler, but when Tiger is in contention, golf becomes must-watch TV.

POLL RESULTS: 35% of people who voted say they watch golf only if Tiger is in the mix. Equal amount of people say they don’t watch, only watch with other stars or never watch. pic.twitter.com/LDlTpUrGWA

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) March 11, 2018