Scottie Scheffler won this year’s Masters with a four-shot victory, his second win at Augusta National in three years. However, the tournament was one of the worst-rated in recent memory, with viewership down 20% from the previous year. Scheffler dominated the final round, taking a one-shot lead into the day and widening the gap as he played. Tiger Woods’ poor performance also impacted viewership, as he finished last with his worst-ever round at Augusta.
Golf influencer Paige Spiranac suggested that golf is currently facing challenges, with fans turned off by the focus on money and lack of innovation in the sport. She hinted at ongoing discussions between the PGA and LIV, which have been ongoing for two years. Although PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan claims progress has been made, the lack of change in the industry could be contributing to decreased interest in the sport. The final round of this year’s Masters was the least-watched since 2021, when Hideki Matsuyama won with a four-shot lead.
In comparison, the previous year’s Masters tournament was much more popular, averaging 12.06 million viewers and becoming the most-watched golf telecast in five years. In that tournament, LIV’s Brooks Koepka held a two-stroke lead going into the final round but was overtaken by Jon Rahm, who won by four strokes. This year’s final round saw Will Zalatoris close the gap on Scottie Scheffler, but it was not enough to overcome the leader’s dominant performance.
Rory McIlroy pledged his commitment to the PGA Tour amid speculation about the future of the sport. People were excited for a competitive final round at this year’s Masters, as Scheffler had a narrow lead, but his strong performance made the outcome seem inevitable early on. The lack of drama in the final stages of the tournament may have contributed to the decreased viewership. The sport of golf may need to make changes to increase interest and engagement among fans, as indicated by the declining ratings of recent tournaments.
