Scores for PGA Tour telecasts in 2025 have been paltry at finest, persevering with a troubling development from the 2024 season that noticed year-to-year decreases throughout the board. However after seeing the scores from Rory McIlroy’s historic win at Pebble Seashore, executives at each the PGA Tour and CBS can breathe a large sigh of reduction.
Sunday’s ultimate spherical telecast averaged 3.33 million viewers, making it the most-watched ultimate spherical of any PGA Tour occasion courting to March 2024, when Scottie Scheffler stormed from behind to win The Gamers Championship. Protection peaked with almost 4 million viewers as McIlroy strolled down the 18th fairway with none strain, figuring out his twenty seventh profession PGA Tour title was already in hand.
McIlroy’s worldwide recognition clearly performed a job as he’s arguably the most well-liked participant on the planet not named Tiger Woods. Internet hosting a Signature Occasion at a prestigious course like Pebble Seashore helps too, which McIlroy alluded to on the CBS broadcast after his win.
“There’s a number of what I might name cathedrals of golf: right here, Augusta, St Andrews clearly, perhaps a number of extra you could possibly add in there,” McIlroy mentioned.
“I had a giant fats zero on all of these stepping into right here. To knock one off at Pebble could be very cool. Yeah, I’m a giant historian of the sport and I keep in mind all of the championships which have been performed right here, and so as to add my title to that listing is fairly cool.”
Golf followers world wide acknowledge Pebble Seashore instantly, due to it being probably the most picturesque programs on the planet. It hosts the U.S. Open routinely and is a bucket listing merchandise each golfer hopes to play sometime.
CBS producers and administrators additionally did a terrific job incorporating new expertise, akin to drone pictures, tracers, and different visuals, emphasizing Pebble Seashore’s distinctive character and wonder. McIlroy’s tee shot on the par-5 14th and everybody’s approaches into the par-3 seventeenth come to thoughts.
On prime of that, 45 of the highest 50 gamers within the Official World Golf Rankings competed this previous week. Scheffler, the present World No. 1, made his PGA Tour season debut — as did three-time main winner Jordan Spieth. Each had been getting back from damage, giving followers one more reason to tune in. It felt just like the unofficial begin to the PGA Tour season with all of the star-power competing.
Maybe the tour and CBS can proceed to experience the momentum at this week’s WM Phoenix Open.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By means of. Observe him on X @jack_milko.
