Scottie Scheffler’s recent victory at the BMW Championship has drawn widespread attention, with the final round attracting 3.5 million viewers on NBC, as reported by the Sports Business Journal. This figure marks a 43% increase compared to the 2.5 million viewers who tuned in for Keegan Bradley’s win at the same event last year. Scheffler’s success has clearly boosted interest in the PGA Tour, highlighting the growing appeal of his performances.
Television Audience Growth Linked to Scheffler’s Season Wins
This season, Scheffler has demonstrated consistent success accompanied by rising television ratings. His first victory of the year at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson saw 2.9 million viewers on CBS, a 66% increase from the previous season and the highest audience since 2017 for that tournament. Later in the year, his British Open win attracted 4.1 million viewers on NBC, up 21% from the previous year and marking the most-watched British Open since 2022.
Mixed Viewership Results for Other Tournaments Featuring Scheffler
Not all of Scheffler’s wins resulted in rising viewership. His PGA Championship victory drew 4.76 million viewers on CBS, a 4% decrease from the 2024 event won by Xander Schauffele. Still, this was 5% higher than the audience for Brooks Koepka’s 2023 win. Additionally, his title defense at Jack Nicklaus’s Memorial Tournament in June attracted 3.063 million viewers, representing a 7% increase from the previous year.
Comparison with LIV Golf Viewership During the BMW Championship
At the same time Scheffler was advancing his season record at the BMW Championship, the rival LIV Golf event in Indianapolis, airing on Fox, drew just 426,000 viewers. This modest audience was even lower than LIV’s top rating of 484,000 for its Miami event at Doral the week before the Masters, underscoring the PGA Tour’s continued viewership dominance.
Industry Perspectives on Scheffler’s Influence on Golf Viewership
Although some, like 2009 British Open champion Stewart Cink, suggest Scheffler may not yet attract the same dedicated fanbase as Tiger Woods once did, his recent ratings clearly indicate strong public interest. In a Q&A with Sports Illustrated, Cink noted,
“is probably not the guy that people are turning on the TV to watch like they used to with Tiger Woods.”
—Stewart Cink, 2009 British Open Champion
Implications for the PGA Tour and Golf Broadcasting Future
Scottie Scheffler’s ability to draw significant viewership numbers helps reinforce the PGA Tour’s position as the premier professional golf circuit, especially in comparison to its LIV Golf rival. As his successes continue, broadcasters and sponsors may see increased opportunities in golf coverage, boosting the sport’s popularity among a broad audience. Given these trends, Scheffler’s performances will likely remain a key factor in growing PGA Tour Ratings moving forward.