Sorenstam brings ratings to USA Network

USA Today ^ | 5/27/2003

[TomB]

Some around here claimed this was going to be a "fiasco" for the PGA and the sponsor, Bank of America. We now see that isn't the case.

[TomB]

BWHAAAHAAAAHAAAAAHAAAA!!!!

[discostu]

Gosh ratings were up almost a fifth even after Sorenstam got knocked out, BofA sure took a bath on that one... NOT.

Welcome to marketing 101 kids. Just wait until that 13 year-old that's already blowing it PGA distances off the tee shows up. If she can scrape up a so-so short game nothing is going to keep her out of the PGA.

[Bikers4Bush]

Actually that's not true. The PGA is already considering making changes that would exclude females from playing in PGA events.

[discostu]

Really? Given the massive amount of money they made this weekend I find that hard to believe. Got a source?

[Bikers4Bush]

I'll look for it. It was an article I read over the weekend. Apparently they've begun to consider making the PGA male only and there are I think three (or more) player reps involved.

The gist of the article was that while it's something they will address that no changes are made to the legal aspects of the PGA quickly.

[Hacksaw]

BWHAAAHAAAAHAAAAAHAAAA

Ummmm, didn't she LOSE?

[discostu]

I'm interested in that. We also have to consider who "they" is. Doesn't seem like the right decision given all the facts (higher ratings, great visibility, and a female on the horizon with a legitimate long ball). The PGA's claim is that it's for the best players overall. Now if it ever comes to pass (purely hypothetical here) that there's more than a handful of women that can compete at the level I can see a legitimate use for an MPGA, LPGA and PGA structure. But I don't see it happening anytime soon, the long ball is too important to PGA play.

[TomB]

Ummmm, didn't she LOSE?

The question is how did the sponsor do? Some posters predicted a disaster for the PGA and B of A.

However, they did quite well.

[presidio9]

Gosh that 1.9 rating was a real bonanza -NOT. More people were watching M.A.S.H. re-runs.


Look you were wrong. It happens. Deal with it.

[cherry]

then they will have to rename it to the MPGA.....

[discostu]

Way to fail to read. 19% increase over last year. Regardless of the raw numer of 19% increase is great.

You're so cute when you can't even lie anymore.

[Bikers4Bush]

Nah, they'll just keep it the same and change the qualification requirements.

[1Old Pro]

Too bad she played so poorly that she didn't make the cut, CBS could have enjoyed some of the ratings for this circus.

[gcruse]

I watched and enjoyed the show. If Anna hadn't been playing,
I wouldn't have given it a moment's eyeball time. I watched none of the tournament that played out on the weekend after she
missed the cut.

[TomB]

CBS could have enjoyed some of the ratings for this circus.

Seems like they did.

CBS' 2.5 overnight rating for its regularly scheduled three-hour show Saturday was 19% above last year's 2.1.

[TomB]

Look you were wrong. It happens. Deal with it.

If the ratings for Thursday were more than twice as high than for any other Thrusday telecast, how am I wrong?

The ratings were through the roof.

[presidio9]

Right. It rained all weekend.

[presidio9]

Because nobody watches Thursday and Friday golf. Which is why they broadcast it on cable.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

If she can scrape up a so-so short game nothing is going to keep her out of the PGA.

How about her inability to make any money there?