Nielsen data over the past six weeks shows that “golf” returned as the most relevant topic to Tiger Woods in online conversations.

With so much anticipation for Tiger’s return to golf, many are speculating about just how high Masters ratings will be.

When it comes to golf’s U.S. Open, it’s no secret the role Tiger Woods plays in television ratings, but one advertiser in particular may be cheering hardest for the defending champion. EASports, the maker of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, has been prevalent so far in this year’s tournament, sponsoring hole flyovers during the broadcast, and placing banner ads on the online stream of the tournament. According to Nielsen’s Video Game Tracking survey, the franchise has grown steadily in both awareness and purchase intent, as evidenced by comparing these …

As the 2009 Masters gets underway this week, The Nielsen Company looks at the tournament’s final round ratings during the reign of Tiger Woods. Starting in 1997, when Woods won his first of four green jackets, his presence at the top of the leaderboard has been ratings gold.

Ratings For The Masters Golf Tournement: 1997-2008

Year
Woods Result
Viewers P2+

1997
Won
13,685,000

1998
T-8
9,957,000

1999
T-18
9,993,000

2000
5th
10,061,000

2001
Won
13,638,000

2002
Won
9,694,000

2003
T-15
8,811,000

2004
T-22
7,913,000

2005
Won
10,778,000

2006
T-3
9,298,000

2007
2nd
10,152,000

2008
T-2
9,711,000

Source: The Nielsen Company / All telecasts on CBS

In tournaments won by Tiger, CBS averages 11.9 million viewers during final round coverage. In each tournament since 1997 NOT won by Tiger, viewership for …

When Tiger Woods tees off later today at the Accenture Match Play Championship, he won’t be the only one relieved by his return to the links. In fact, PGA Tour officials and TV executives might have more of a reason to celebrate than Tiger himself.
The Nielsen Company compared the network TV ratings for the 3rd and 4th rounds of golf tournaments played by Woods after the U.S. Open in 2007 with those same tournaments he missed in 2008 due to a season-ending knee injury. And the results are just what …