CBS attracted some of the lowest overnight ratings in years for weekend coverage of The Masters.
Final round coverage of The Masters earned a 7.8 overnight rating on CBS Sunday afternoon, down 24% from last year (10.2), down 4% from 2012 (8.1), and the lowest overnight for final round coverage since 2004 (7.3).
Overall, the 7.8 is the third-lowest for the final round since at least 1991, ahead of only 2004 and 1993 (6.8). Excluding Easter Sunday telecasts, the 7.8 is the lowest over that span.
A major contributor to the lower numbers was the absence of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Woods missed The Masters altogether due to injury, while Mickelson missed the cut. It was the first Masters weekend without either since 1994. Perhaps coincidentally, the final round of the 1994 Masters earned an 8.5 rating — until this year, the lowest for a non-Easter Sunday finish since at least ’91.
On Saturday, third round action drew a 4.4 overnight — down 30% from last year (6.3) and down 14% from 2012 (5.1). The 4.4 is the lowest overnight for third round coverage since at least 1995, reports Sports Media Watch.