Tiger Woods made a triumphant return to competitive golf last weekend at the PNC Championship in Orlando, Florida, generating a massive viewership boost when he teamed up with his son, Charlie. This marked Woods’ first tournament since undergoing his sixth lower back surgery in September and his first appearance since The Open Championship in July.
The highlight of the event came when Charlie Woods recorded his first hole-in-one on the par-3 fourth hole. Reflecting on the moment, Woods said, “It was the thrill of a lifetime to be able to have that moment with Charlie. make your first hole in one, (daughter) Sam in the bag, just our family and friends. That’s what this event is about. “It’s about togetherness and family.”
Although the Woods duo did not win the tournament, Tiger expressed satisfaction with their performance. “I know we didn’t win, but it was the fact that we competed. In reality, no one made a mistake. We had to earn it and that’s what you want to have. Congratulations to Langers. They played incredible,” he said, referring to the winning team led by Bernhard Langer.
Tiger’s return turned out to be a big draw for the public. The first day of the PNC Championship averaged 2.92 million viewers, a 147% increase from the previous year and the highest opening day audience in the history of the tournament since its inception in 1995. according to Sports Media Watch. The second day also saw a notable increase, with 1.42 million viewers tuning in, a 32% increase from 2023.
The so-called “tiger effect” has provided a stark contrast to the declining viewership trends seen at other major golf tournaments this year. For example, the 152nd Open Championship in July recorded its lowest viewership since 2015, with 3.39 million viewers, while the final round of the Masters saw a 20% drop in viewership compared to 2022.
Rory McIlroy has attributed some of the sport’s difficulties to the current dispute between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. “If you look at the PGA Tour television ratings this year, they are down 20 percent across the board. That’s a fifth. That’s important,” McIlroy said. “I think with the fights and everything that’s happened… people are getting fatigued and that’s turning people away from men’s professional golf.”
Despite broader challenges, Tiger Woods’ return has reignited enthusiasm in the sport, highlighting his enduring ability to captivate audiences.