In 2024, the PGA Tour saw a mix of positive and negative storylines. Scottie Scheffler had an impressive season with seven wins, while Xander Schauffele finally won his first major. However, the tour’s TV numbers saw a significant drop, with an average of 2.2 million viewers for Sunday telecasts (excluding majors), down 19% from the previous year. On Saturdays, viewership was down 17% as well.
NBC saw a decline in viewership for all tour events in 2024, while CBS also experienced a drop in viewership compared to the previous year. Factors contributing to the decline in numbers included weather-related delays, tournaments finishing on Mondays, and competition from the Paris Olympics. Additionally, the ongoing competition with LIV Golf and fatigue from the sport’s war with Saudi Arabia may have impacted viewership as well.
Despite the linear drops, the PGA Tour remains optimistic about the future. Commissioner Jay Monahan pointed out that overall media consumption was up in 2024, and social media engagement saw growth. Nielsen’s plans to incorporate more streaming and OTT platform data in their measurements could potentially lead to a 20% increase in weekend broadcast coverage for the tour in the future.
While the tour faced challenges in 2024, improvements in measurement methods and a focus on engaging fans through social media and streaming platforms provide hope for a more successful future.
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