Scottie Scheffler’s dominating performance at the 2024 iteration of the Masters was something to behold. The world’s best golfer shot the lowest final round on Sunday at Augusta since all the way back in 2021.
Unfortunately, it simply appears that interest in golf is dying. Whether it’s the drama involving LIV Golf and the PGA Tour or something else, fans are just not tuning in at the same rate as we’ve seen in the past.
According to the Sports Business Journal, television ratings for The Masters this season were down 20%. In particular, Sunday’s final round saw very little interest. CBS drew an average of just 9.59 million viewers for Scheffler’s final round victory.
Related: Scottie Scheffler Credits God With Masters Win – ‘What Defines Me Most Is My Faith’
The Masters TV Ratings Prove Golf Is A Dying Brand
Last season saw the Masters earn an average of 12.06 million viewers for the final round. Back in 2022 when Scheffler won, the average was 10.17 million viewers. In reality, this represents the smallest viewership since back in 2021.
Viewership for the biggest major on the PGA calendar peaked at 20.26 million when Tiger Woods won for the first time in Augusta back in 1997. To see it cut in half can’t be considered great for the brand of golf.
We’re seeing a ton of drama unfold around the game after LIV Golf was founded to compete with the PGA Tour a couple years back. Said drama includes a rift between PGA lifers and those who have taken to cash to split for the Saudi-baked internatinal circuit.
It’s obviously an open question whether this has led to a downtick in TV ratings. But what we saw over the four-day major this past week is not a good look for the sport.