Whether the 2025 Ryder Cup lived up to all the hype is certainly debatable, but it clearly didn’t meet expectations when it comes to TV ratings.
As reported first by Sports Business Journal, Sunday’s coverage across NBC and Peacok (so, including streaming) averaged 3.22 million viewers. That’s the lowest viewership for a U.S.-based Ryder Cup this century.
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Of course, much of that had to do with the Europeans mounting a seemingly insurmountable seven-point lead heading into Sunday. And their grasp on the Ryder Cup tightened even more before the singles session event started due the envelope rule being triggered by an injured Viktor Hovland that brought Europe a half point closer to retaining the cup.
After the Americans made an early Sunday rally, viewership peaked at 5.3 million viewers between 5:00-5:15 ET. Europe held on to win 15-13.
The 2023 Ryder Cup produced by far the lowest overall number—a 1.32 million average—of this century, but in addition to Europe holding a commanding lead heading into Sunday, that was played in Italy with a six-hour time difference from the East Coast. According to SBJ, the highest overall number came from one of the most competitive Ryder Cups in 2012 at Medinah, when there was an average of 5.5 million viewers.
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The previous low Sunday rating for a U.S.-based Ryder Cup this century came the last time the Americans hosted in 2021 at Whistling Straits. That was also a lopsided affair—eventually won with a record-breaking 19 points by the U.S.—and produced a 3.5 million viewers on average.
But wait! There’s a twist!
Sky Sports reported a record-breaking weekend highlighted by the Ryder Cup, which drew an average of 5 million viewers. That broke the previous Ryder Cup mark for the network set in 2012 and eclipsed the number that tuned in to watch Rory McIlroy win the Masters in April.
In other words, if you live in the U.K., then this Ryder Cup definitely lived up to the hype.
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