Sunday Suspense Is Good News for NBC
Posted at 12:48 PM by Dick Friedman | Categories:
Ryder Cup
On the heels of its smashing Olympics ratings, NBC came up with another winner in the final round of the Ryder Cup. According to Sports Business Daily, the network garnered a 3.3 rating and 7 audience share for the Sunday singles, up 22.2% from the Nielsen for the final round in 2006.
Of course, as my SI colleague Mark Godich points out, two years ago, with the Euros having virtually locked up the Cup by the close of play on Saturday, there was little drama in that final session.
But it's also significant that this is the first Tiger-less major event this year to show an upward ratings bump over the most recent previous edition.
Posted by: E. wiggins | Sep 24, 2008 7:39:01 PM
I enjoyed seeing the other guys step up to the plate and knock it "outa the park". They were loose and playing carefree golf and it showed. The results dont lie.
Posted by: Rich | Sep 24, 2008 2:35:52 PM
For me the heros of the Ryder Cup were three rookies.......... First and foremost, number one was Anthony Kim, what a breath of fresh air, the enthusiasm and youthful spirit he showed was definitely contagious. Look for him in the next two years to firmly plant himself as the number 2 spot in the world rankings. Hunter Mahan had a spark and game that help Justin Leonard win his first ever point, and how bout that putt on #17 on sunday??!!! He did a Tiger pump after!! And last but not least...one word.......BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Posted by: M. Taylor | Sep 24, 2008 7:23:30 AM
I might be in the minority, but seeing that Tiger played well in the past at Valhalla, I am sure he would have fitted in. I also cannot understand why Tiger gets to be the bad guy where Phil is concerned. Phil is usually the one who (in the past and not recently) "bad mouthed" Tiger, not the other way around. Phil was the one who practised off the course at the last Ryder Cup and Phil was the one who changed clubs the week before the Ryder Cup. Why is Tiger being bashed. Phil has more of an outgoing personality than Tiger, so why is Tiger being bashed? I just cannot udnerstand this hate towards Tiger. No matter what he does or does not do, he gets bashed. I sure would not like to be in his shoes. It is a tribute to Tiger that he stands above the fray no matter what. All the best Tiger. Some people out here still love you - maybe not in the US, but in the world.
Posted by: Don Lehman | Sep 23, 2008 10:22:01 PM
I agree with the viewers who prefer to watch the golf and let the players provide the show instead of having to listen to the pompous, opinionated Johnny Miller spout his agenda and promote himself as he has done his entire career. He constant bossing and unstaging of his peers is very annoying and distasteful.
Posted by: Mike at the Ryder Cup | Sep 23, 2008 9:53:51 PM
I attended the Ryder Cup and listened to the matches on the radios that can be bought there. You can choose to listen to the TV broadcast by NBC or the radio broadcast by the BBC. I listened to both and settled on the BBC. Why? If I heard Johnny Miller promote Rocco and Zach Johnson as Captain's picks once, I heard it a thousand times. And this is after the Zinger's picks played great! The commentators on the BBC had a more Euro tilt, of course, but there narrative was more balanced that the NBC broadcast. By the way, the atmosphere at #1 tee on Sunday was just electric beyond description. An amazing event that will be remembered as one of the greatest moments in golf history.
Posted by: Mike at the Ryder Cup | Sep 23, 2008 9:52:44 PM
I attended the Ryder Cup and listened to the matches on the radios that can be bought there. You can choose to listen to the TV broadcast by NBC or the radio broadcast by the BBC. I listened to both and settled on the BBC. Why? If I heard Johnny Miller promote Rocco and Zach Johnson as Captain's picks once, I heard it a thousand times. And this is after the Zinger's picks played great! The commentators on the BBC had a more Euro tilt, of course, but there narrative was more balanced that the NBC broadcast. By the way, the atmosphere at #1 tee on Sunday was just electric beyond description. An amazing event that will be remembered as one of the greatest moments in golf history.
Posted by: Richard | Sep 23, 2008 2:29:44 PM
For the record the match was not over when Miguel his putt. It was over when Miguel conceeded Furyk's putt.
Posted by: Dennis G Cavanaugh, Jr | Sep 23, 2008 12:38:14 PM
This years Ryder Cup was different in that it was a total "Team" effort. In years past the focus has always been on the great Mr Woods. Paul Azinger assembled the right group of Guys that not only were talented but truly appeared to be having the time of their life. Boo Weekly was awesome and I'm sure picked up thousands of new fans along with Anthony Kim and JB Holmes. This will go down as one of the best ever performances by a US Team. Nearly everything we own is made outside of the US except for our Ryder Cup Team. They brought back a sense of pride to us and a little taste of what makes this country great. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
Posted by: I was at Valhalla! | Sep 23, 2008 10:06:28 AM
What a great, great week. I'm going to Wales, baby. Um, where is Wales?
Posted by: Randy Voss | Sep 23, 2008 7:45:47 AM
This weeks Ryder Cup was amazing, exciting, entertaining, and also frustrating. Can't we get the PGA to go to a "Masters" type telecast, one where commercials are kept to a minimum and we don't hear the droning commentary of announcers? It seemed as if every time a significant shot was to happen, we got the shot and a commercial. I couldn't get into the drama and flow if I wanted to, because there was always another break coming. This was one of the best events golf could have had, given the ratings pain from Tiger's injury. Let us see the play and quit with the talking heads like Mr. Miller and the oppressive commercials.
As for an event without Tiger... Yeah, he's the best in the world right now, but he has never won the crowds the way Boo, Kenny, B.J., and AK did this year. We often hear what a great guy Tiger is off the course, but you have to wonder if his terminator-like attitude during the season has squeezed the life out of his "team mates." We saw his visible acrimony towards Phil at Okland Hills, so how must the other players feel once out on the course with him? This years team clearly loved being together, and their play rose with their mutual confidence and comraderie.
Posted by: Pops Peithman | Sep 23, 2008 6:21:17 AM
I have to echo Mark, the Tiger-less Cup was an opportunity for some other up and coming super stars of golf to show off their wares.
Tiger is the best but he had better keep sharp, Kim, Hunter and a few others will be fueled by their successes of late. Pops
Posted by: K O'Connor | Sep 23, 2008 3:10:41 AM
Mark.
You didnt miss much in the closing ceremony, sky sports coverage lasted until after the closing ceremony. There was about 20 fans in attendence, most of them european, and the rest were grounds staff, and welsh representing the next match location.
Sky sports had the option over the three days to watch the american coverage, to see how they were commenting. I dont know how american fans could follow the game there was so many add breaks, and even the commentators giving advertising spiel during there commentating on the matches.
Probably most irritating was the "who is this guy" comments related to Wilson and McDowell, should it not be upon the comentators to have there research done and educate the viewers, perhaps some education in matchplay rules wouldnt go astray either. It was noticeable the fans green side when Miguel missed his putt against Furyk didnt know the match was over and america had won.
Posted by: Mark | Sep 22, 2008 5:34:38 PM
I think this Ryder Cup was sucessful for the U.S. Team because Tiger Woods did not participate. I believe there is a lot of unspoken animosity and jealousy towards Tiger. I don't think players will admit this, but without Tiger there at the Ryder Cup, there is less talk about Tiger and more about the "team". This in turn allows each player to relax and feel like this could be there week to shine. The results: every player stepped up there game and made remarkable shots on Sundays singles match. It was like there golf balls had magnets on there approach shots. Pure brilliance!
Posted by: Hille Vee | Sep 22, 2008 4:42:00 PM
I wish the Golf Channel showed
the pre and after ceremonies
which is usually very interesting to listen to the
Captain's speeches,etc.........