The Golf Watch

PGA overnight ratings drop

Big surprise--without Tiger Woods, the PGA Championship's overnight ratings for Sunday dropped 55% to a 3.0, according to Dick Friedman of golf.com...

Cratering. Devastation. Decimation. Those are a few of the kinder terms to characterize the decline in the PGA Tour's most conspicuous indicators since Tiger Woods underwent season-ending knee surgery just a few days after his epic U.S. Open win in June. In the immediate wake of The Tiger Show at Torrey Pines, the Tour was riding a crest: Its prime-time rating and audience share for NBC's final-round telecast that Sunday (10.0/20) had been even higher than the figures for the competing NBA Finals Game 5 on ABC (9.0/16).

Since then, however, golf's TV ratings have fallen into the abyss. Despite Padraig Harrington's thrilling victory on Sunday at Oakland Hills, the overnight rating for the PGA Championship was 3.0, down 55% from last year's final round at Southern Hills — an event won by (surely you recall) Woods.

AT&T National ratings drop

As expected, Thomas Bonk of the LA Times reports that the ratings for the Tiger-less AT&T National went down signifciantly...

In a word: bad. The overnight ratings for Sunday's fourth round of the AT&T National on CBS were down 48%, from a 2.9 to a 1.5. The third-round overnight ratings were down 35%, from a 2.0 to a 1.3.

As for the LPGA...

...overnight ratings on CBS for the weekend's LPGA event, the P&G Beauty Northwest Arkansas Championship, barely registered. Saturday's rating was an 0.7 and Sunday's was an 0.6.

Nantz's father passes away at 79, Lundquist holds the fort

Jim Nantz's father, also named Jim, died Saturday night at the age of 79.  He had suffered from Alzheimers.

Verne Lundquist took Nantz's place in the 18th tower this weekend with Nick Faldo.  No word as to when Nantz will be back in action.

Memorial ratings down 31%

Thomas Bonk of the LA Times reports that CBS struggled in the ratings department on Sunday at The Memorial.  The network drew a 1.8 rating, down 31% from last year's 2.6. 

This is puzzling to me.  Rod Pampling was the third round leader last year, and Matthew Goggin led after three days this year (both led by three strokes heading into day 4).  Was last year that much more appealing?

Ratings slide at Wachovia

If NBC had any hope that they could draw a somewhat decent rating this weekend...they better think again.  The Tiger Woods effect showed it's power at the Wachovia Championship last weekend on CBS.  Thomas Bonk of the LA Times writes:

Saturday's overnight metered market rating was a 1.4 -- down 42% from the 2.4 rating in 2007 when Woods was in contention. And Sunday's overnight metered market rating was a 1.8 -- down 53% from the 3.8 last year when Woods wound up winning.

Woods is out of action because of knee surgery. In the meantime, CBS is crossing its fingers that he returns in three weeks at the Memorial, which is on the network's broadcast schedule.

Immelman on Late Show with David Letterman

Trevor Immelman made an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman on Monday night, and read the "Top 10 Ways Trevor Immelman's Life Has Changed Since Winning The Masters." 

10. I've been elevated from "unknown" to "obscure"

9. Thanks to the prize money, I no longer have to buy generic root beer

8. Suddenly I don't look so foolish for trademarking "Immelmania"

7. I'm BFFs with Lauren and Heidi from "The Hills"

6. President Bush called to congratulate me on winning Wimbledon

5. When my caddy recommends a club I can say, "Excuse me, how many Masters have you won?"

4. Invited to Masters Winners Week on "Jeopardy"

3. I get a lifetime supply of them little pencils

2. Guess who's playing 36 holes with the Pope this weekend?

1. Get to put my arm around Tiger Woods and say, "Maybe next year"

Immelman will also make it on to Live with Regis and Kelly tomorrow morning, along with expected appearances on CNN and Fox News.

2008 Masters ratings rundown

For their first year of Masters coverage, the people over at ESPN must be pleased.  ESPN had a 3.1 rating during Friday's coverage, according to the Associated Press, which is the first time either of the first two rounds has generated a 3.0 rating.  Thursday's first round produced a 2.2 rating.

As for the final round telecast on CBS, the overnight ratings were down 2.2% from last year, reports the Sports Business Daily.  CBS produced a 8.9/18 overnight Nielsen rating, compared to last year's overnight, which was a 9.1/21. 

Clampett's "chinaman" comment garners attention online

During CBS' Friday telecast of the Masters, Bobby Clampett referred to golfer Liang Wen-Chong as "the chinaman."  According to Michael David Smith on the FanHouse, Clampett, a professional golfer and longtime CBS announcer, apologized immediately after the fact, saying,

It has been a privilege to be here with you the last 2 days describing action of all of the players. In describing the Asian player Wen-Chong Liang if I offended anybody please accept my sincere apologies.

Clampett's comment has gotten a lot of attention online, as Smith's post is the most commented post on FanHouse right now, with 815 comments.  The Clampett post beats out 'Michael Vick playing prison football' and 'Bryant Gumbel leaves NFL Network.' 

Masters coverage enhanced

Masters coverage isn't only becoming more visually appealing, it's also becoming more accessible.  This year, if you are stuck at work and can't catch ESPN or CBS' coverage, or if you are like me, and like to watch on both the television and the computer, live streaming will be available online of the 15th and 16th holes, along with Amen Corner (11,12,13).  It will be accessible on both masters.org and cbssports.com.

In addition to the expansion of the broadcasts, Ken Freed of TVTechnology.com writes that CBS' coverage will have 100 percent HD video coverage of the course.  Ken Aagard, senior vice president of operations for CBS Sports says:

The Masters may have the most complete HD hard camera coverage of any event in sports.

It gets better...William Houston of the Globe and Mail writes:

CBS is introducing new technology involving computer animation that illustrates the contour of the fairways and greens.

Getting pumped yet? (Just in case you haven't seen the sentimental CBS Masters commercials that started in January)

Feherty hit by truck, breaks three ribs

CBS analyst David Feherty was hit by a truck yesterday while riding his bike, breaking three ribs, along with a punctured lung, according to an AP article.  Feherty was immediately taken to a hospital near his Dallas home.  It was clear from Feherty's interview that he was in good spirits, and he even joked that the medical center he was taken to was the only hospital in the United States that didn't have The Golf Channel.  Feherty expects to be ready for The Masters next month.