In addition to delivering some compelling and comedic moments, plus raising a money for Coronavirus relief, “The Match II: Champions for Charity” on Sunday was the most watched golf match in the history of cable television.
The event, which was telecast on TNT, TBS, truTV and HLN, peaked with by drawing a total of 6.3 million viewers between 5:45-6 p.m. EDT, and drew an average of 5.8 million viewers throughout.
The fact that the match went down to the final hole, and virtually the last shot, had to help, with Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning defeating Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady, 1 up, with no on-course spectators at Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla.
Making the telecast even better was the commentary of NBA on TNT studio analyst Charles Barkley, fourth-ranked Justin Thomas standing out in his debut as an on-course reporter, along with the always reliable Amanda Balionis also on the ground.
Best of all, “The Match II” raised $20 million for Covid-19 relief.
It was the second straight Sunday live golf with PGA Tour stars was shown on television after none since the Tour Championship was canceled on March 13 because of concerns over the Coronavirus pandemic.
A week earlier, Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson defeated Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff in “TaylorMade Driving Relief” in a one-hole shootout playoff at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Fla., in an exhibition that NBC Sports said attracted a total of 2.35 million viewers.
The PGA Tour plans to resume its season in two weeks with the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
