The field was smaller and the format was certainly different, but the masses were waiting for live golf’s return and showed up in big numbers on Sunday for the TaylorMade Driving Relief event from Florida’s Seminole Golf Club.
According to Golf Channel, a total audience of 2.35 average viewers showed up to watch the duo of Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson beat Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff in a charity skins match that raised more than $5.5 million for COVID-19 relief efforts. Donations are continuing at PGATOUR.com/DrivingRelief.
That number includes NBC, GOLF Channel, NBCSN, as well as the NBC Sports and PGA TOUR streaming platforms.
“Sunday’s telecast helped raise awareness for the American Nurses Foundation, CDC Foundation and Off Their Plate, three organizations on the frontlines of COVID-19 relief efforts. It’s a credit to the PGA TOUR, corporate partners and the players for making this event a terrific success,” said Pete Bevacqua, president, NBC Sports Group. “On top of the funds raised for these charitable entities, audiences were treated to their first look at Seminole Golf Club, which ultimately was the fifth star on Sunday in its television debut.”
How do those numbers stack up against a traditional golf Sunday? Pretty well.
Despite some unfavorable reviews for a choppy broadcast format that included an interview with President Trump, the 2.35 million number falls in around the norm in comparison to the averages that CBS and NBC attained for 2019 second quarter final day broadcasts.
The number was good with a younger audience, as well, as it far surpassed last year’s WGC Dell Match Play Event in Austin, Texas — coming in 66 percent higher with that demographic.
