PGA Tour TV Ratings Plummet 60% For American Express Final Round
The American Express PGA Tour TV ratings experienced a significant decline in 2025, with final round viewership dropping to 232,000 viewers – nearly 60% lower than 2024's numbers and 40% below 2023's figures.
Several factors contributed to this downturn:
- Sepp Straka's comfortable victory lacked competitive drama
- Direct competition with NFL divisional playoffs
- Notable withdrawals from Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele
- Extremely slow pace of play (nearly six hours for leaders)
Comparative viewership numbers:
- 2025: 232,000 viewers (Straka win)
- 2024: 534,000 viewers (Dunlap win)
- 2023: 391,000 viewers (Rahm win)
Golfer swings by ocean course
This decline reflects a broader trend of falling PGA Tour TV ratings. For context, while sports dominated 2024's most-watched broadcasts with over 90% of the top 200 telecasts, and NFL content accounting for more than 125 of those programs, golf failed to make the top 200.
The impact of these declining numbers can be seen in scheduling decisions, such as the Farmers Insurance Open shifting to a Wednesday-Saturday format to avoid competing with NFL playoffs.
Additionally, the tech-focused TGL league has faced similar challenges, with viewership dropping 30% in week three despite strong initial numbers. However, the upcoming McIlroy vs. Woods matchup is expected to boost ratings significantly.