Tiger Woods’s return to the Masters will register in ratings
A cynic might suggest that television has long since hit a drought on original ideas. Not even that is an original idea.
Reboots of past programming hits do seem to be trendier than ever. As the massive early ratings on ABC’s “Roseanne’’ reminds us, nostalgia is often a main ingredient in the recipe for success.
It has even carried over to golf the past several weeks. The Masters, which begins Thursday at 3 p.m. on ESPN, with Friday’s competition also on the network before moving to CBS for the final two rounds, is a superb television product each year, with the requisite big ratings to match.
But this year, the tournament’s television partners are giddier than usual, and you probably know why, even if you’re a casual fan . . . or should I say, patron.
Tiger Woods is back, a contender again, as charismatic and compelling as he has ever been. When he’s right, he effortlessly seizes the stage, and everyone else becomes the supporting cast. This is the reboot golf fans have been awaiting, but weren’t sure would ever happen. This is a PGA television rights holder’s dream.
“We all have to admit,’’ said ESPN golf analyst Curtis Strange, “one of the big reasons for [the excitement and anticipation surrounding this year’s Masters] is Tiger Woods is back playing golf. And we’re all anxious to see if can he continue the trend that he has shown this year of continuing to improve and perform on his recent play. I expect he will.’’
Woods’s name on the leaderboard has a palpable and extraordinary effect on television viewership. When he finished second in the Valspar Championship in mid-March, NBC earned a 5.11 rating for the final round on Sunday.
That was up 190 percent from the previous year and the highest-rated non-major event in five years. The most recent PGA Tour broadcast to rate so high? The Players Championship in 2013. The winner of that event? Tiger Woods.
Even if Woods doesn’t claim a fifth victory in The Masters and his 15th major overall, his presence has a meaningful effect on the rest of the field. In a way, ESPN analyst Andy North says, it further validates anyone who defeats him, even already accomplished younger players such as Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.
“Oh, absolutely it does,’’ said North. “These guys, they’re all excited until the fact that he’s been out there, and he’s starting to play well. They want to see if they can beat him, and for some of these guys, they’ve never played with Tiger Woods when he’s playing well. They don’t have any idea how big a circus it is to try to play with him.’’
But they are eager to find out, said Scott Van Pelt, the anchor of ESPN’s coverage.
“Well, think about it. If you think about it, none of these guys that are — whether it’s Thomas or Spieth, they were like 14 years old the last time Tiger won a major, and it’s really fascinating to see how excited they are.
“Justin Thomas wasn’t playing the week of the Valspar but he was constantly tweeting out, he’s a fan and he’s excited that Tiger is back. None of those guys have ever had to stand toe-to-toe when Tiger is being Tiger, and I think the idea of it is fun for players until they’re in the arena.’’
Some of the younger players have said they wish they could have gone up against Woods during his heyday. Van Pelt said that in a certain way they should be grateful they are of a different age.
“Ask David Duval or Vijay Singh or Davis Love III or Justin Leonard or any of the guys from that peer group about that,’’ said Van Pelt. “Ernie Els most notably, he and David Duval, all those guys that had to deal with Tiger when he was that guy. Their careers are framed differently because they had to try to win majors at the same time Tiger was, and they just weren’t available to the same degree.’’
Strange said that if Woods’s excellent recent play is more than a fleeting flashback, the current generation had better be careful what they wish for.
“The quote of the year to me has been from Duval,’’ said Strange. “Some weeks ago he was making a comment that all these young kids and all the good players on Tour now are saying, I wish I would have had some of Tiger in his prime. David Duval says, ‘The hell you do.’ ’’
