The 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, highlighted by Scottie Scheffler’s commanding five-shot victory, produced solid but slightly lower TV ratings compared to last year’s event. CBS’s broadcast of the final round averaged 4.763 million viewers, which is down by 4% from 2024’s audience of 4.958 million when Xander Schauffele narrowly defeated Bryson DeChambeau in a dramatic finish.
Audience Patterns and Peak Viewership
While there was a drop in the average viewership, the audience actually surged during the final hour. Nearly 6.9 million viewers tuned in at the peak moment, demonstrating that Scheffler’s impressive climb to his first Wanamaker Trophy still attracted a large number of golf fans. This late spike in viewers illustrates that interest in major championship golf remains strong, even when the conclusion is less suspenseful.
Comparing Past Championships
- 2025: Scheffler’s win averaged 4.763 million viewers
- 2024: Schauffele’s victory drew 4.958 million
- 2023: Koepka’s triumph had 4.517 million
- 2022: Thomas’s playoff win reached 5.273 million
- 2021: Mickelson’s historic win peaked at 6.583 million
These numbers indicate that the nature of the competition—whether close and thrilling or a dominant runaway—may play a significant role in driving TV viewership, possibly even more than just the popularity of the players involved.
PGA Tour’s Broader TV Ratings in 2025
PGA Tour’s overall ratings in 2025 have been encouraging, with CBS’s year-to-date average of 3.6 million representing a 13% increase over the previous season.
- Rory McIlroy’s Players Championship win drew 3.6 million viewers.
- The Masters was especially noteworthy, with a Sunday audience of 12.7 million—the highest since 2018.
This growth shows that interest in golf remains robust, with major events still commanding significant attention.
Impact of Drama vs. Star Power
The slight ratings dip this year may be linked to the lack of suspense down the stretch. While last year’s championship had a thrilling, close finish, Scheffler’s strong lead resulted in fewer surprises. This suggests that audiences may crave unpredictability and close finishes more than simply witnessing big names dominate.
Looking Ahead
As the golf season continues, the key question is whether upcoming majors can combine star performances with edge-of-your-seat drama to keep boosting viewership. Scheffler’s win may be remembered for its clinical execution, but the future promise of high ratings could depend on a return to razor-thin margins and nail-biting conclusions.
For source details and further reading, visit the original article at Golf Monthly.
