Take One Guess Why The Honda Classic TV Ratings Spiked Up

The Honda Classic enjoyed boffo TV ratings for CBS and GolfChannel. Of course, there’s only one reason why.

Tiger Woods still moves the needle like no other. Heck, he’s still the one and only needle. And when he contends on the weekend like at The Honda, even non-avid golf fans tune in. Golfweek’s Forecaddie highlights the giddy details for the two networks.

Final TV ratings numbers are in and CBS averaged four million viewers for the 3:15-6 p.m. ET block of Sunday’s 2018 Honda Classic. That’s up 43% over Rickie Fowler’s 2017 win on NBC according to SBD. The big ratings also wrap up what CBS is calling its highest viewership in five years for the early season coverage that started at the Farmers Insurance Open.

Golf Channel’s final round lead-in coverage of Sunday’s Honda Classic averaged an eye-popping 1.6 million viewers, making it the most watched lead-in coverage in five years and the fourth most-watched Golf Channel lead-in telecast ever. Even with a busy sports calendar, Golf Channel was overwhelmingly the No. 1 cable sports network from 1-3:15 p.m. ET on Sunday.

That’s hardly surprising as NBC eagerly awaits Woods’ return at either The Valspar or Bay Hill Invitational. No more NCAA hoops encroaching into golf coverage either. Rejoice!