No Tiger, no Rory, no problem: CBS reports five-year high in ratings for Sunday's Masters

Tiger Woods didn't play on Sunday in The Masters. Rory McIlroy missed the cut. And the weather resulted in a jumbled weekend broadcast.

TV viewers didn't seem to mind. CBS announced on Tuesday that a combined 16.251 million viewers watched the conclusion of the third round Sunday morning and the final round in the afternoon and evening, the most-watched golf telecast on any network since the final round of the 2018 Masters, which had 13.045 million viewers.

The final round also was the most-streamed round of golf ever on Paramount+, with double-digit growth from last year's Masters across households and Average Minute Audience (AMA). CBS did not release specific streaming numbers.

Viewership on Sunday peaked with more than 15 million viewers (15.021) from 7:00-7:15 p.m. as Jon Rahm was closing out his four-shot victory.

Crews work fast on Augusta trees

When the Augusta National Golf Club wants something done quickly, it spares no expense or effort.

The three large pine trees near the 17th tee that were toppled in high winds as a storm hit the area on Friday were removed within a matter of hours. All that was left on Saturday morning when players and fans returned for the resumption of the second round of the Masters were three roped-off areas where the trees had stood, covered by green gravel and pine straw.

The trees were estimated to be around 50 feet tall and 18 inches in diameter. Fans who were sitting in portable chairs watching the golf felt pine cones landing on them and heard loud cracks before the trees fell. Fortunately, there were no injuries but one of the trees fell on an estimated 10 chairs that had been occupied.

Play had not yet been suspended when the trees fell.

“I was standing on the right side, which is near 17, right by the back right bunker on 16 lining up my putt,” 1987 champion Larry Mize told the Associated Press. “Then all of a sudden, I heard it, and I looked around, and I saw the trees. I’m thinking, ‘Oh, my gosh, people, get out of there. Thank goodness no one was hurt.”

Augusta National has a tree service and contractors on standby throughout the tournament in case emergency repairs to trees or structures are required.

Rahm seeking more history

It wasn’t enough that Rahm became the fourth Spaniard to win the Masters or the first European to win the Masters and the U.S. Open in his career.

The world’s No. 1-ranked player is back for more at Hilton Head this week.

Rahm is playing in the RBC Heritage, the Tour’s designated event at the Harbour Town Golf Links with a $20 million purse and $3.6 million for the winner — $1.26 million more than Rahm earned for winning at Augusta National.

He’s also trying to become the second player to win the Masters and the Tour event the week after. Bernard Langer was the first, in 1985.

Rahm is the first Masters winner to play at Hilton Head the week after. Defending champion Jordan Spieth was the last, in 2015.

USGA launches app

The United States Golf Association has launched a USGA Championship app which, for the first time, will provide live scoring and coverage of all 15 USGA championships.

Beginning with the U.S. Women's Four-Ball May 13-17, the app will include mobile ticketing and on-site GPS wayfinding and provide scorecard highlights for all televised shots of the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open and U.S. Senior Women’s Open in real-time.

Live scoring and tee times will be available for the 15 championships, plus the Curtis Cup and Walker Cup. There will be live streaming and featured holes coverage during the U.S. Open at the Los Angeles Country Club and feature group coverage of the U.S. Women's Open at Pebble Beach.

Every televised shot of the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open and U.S. Senior Women’s Open can be watched, on demand, within a player’s scorecard, immediately after a hole is completed.

The USGA App is now available for iPhone and Android users.

Tour, South Carolina strike deal

The PGA Tour and Discover South Carolina announced a five-year marketing partnership that designates South Carolina's Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism as an Official Tourism Sponsor of the PGA Tour.

The agreement, which runs through 2027, will see Discover South Carolina engage across the PGA Tour landscape, including through digital activations and creative content as well as at PGA Tour and DP World Tour tournaments.

This week’s RBC Heritage returns to Hilton Head Island for its 55th playing. The Congaree Golf Club in nearby Ridgeland, South Carolina, also hosted events in both 2021 and 2022 as the PGA TOUR navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, with Garrick Higgo winning the 2021 Palmetto Championship and Rory McIlroy taking the CJ Cup last October.

South Carolina has also hosted the Korn Ferry Tour’s annual BMW Charity Pro-Am since 1992, at the Thornblade Club in Greer, S.C.

PGA TOUR

Event: RBC Heritage, Thursday-Sunday, Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, S.C.

At stake: $20 million purse ($3.6 million and 500 FedEx Cup points to the winner).

Defending champion: Jordan Spieth.

TV: Golf Channel (Thursday-Friday, 2-6 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m.); CBS (Saturday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m.).

Area players entered: Harris English, Jim Furyk, Lanto Griffin, Brian Harman, Billy Horschel, Zach Johnson, Patton Kizzire, Russell Knox, Davis Love III, Keith Mitchell, Trey Mullinax, J.T. Poston, Doc Redman, Sam Ryder, Davis Thompson, Michael Thompson.

Notable: The next in a series of the PGA Tour’s “designated events” is the 55^th edition of the tournament that was first won by Arnold Palmer in 1969. … Masters champion Jon Rahm, Players champion Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Max Homa, Xander Schauffele and Cameron Young are also in the field. … Furyk and Love join Ernie Els in repping the PGA Tour Champions this week. Love won at Hilton Head five times and Furyk twice. … This is the 20^th anniversary of Love’s last victory at Hilton Head. … Spieth birdied the 18^th hole in regulation to make a playoff with Cantlay, then got up and down for par at the same hole in sudden death to win his 13^th PGA Tour event. He hasn’t won since but had 21 birdies last week in tying for fourth at the Masters.

LPGA TOUR

Event: Lotte Championship, Thursday-Sunday, Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii.

At stake: $2 million purse ($300,000 to the winner).

Defending champion: Hyo Joo Kim.

TV: Golf Channel (Thursday-Sunday, 7-11 p.m.).

Area players entered: Mel Reid. Amelia Lewis of Jacksonville is the first alternate.

Notable: Kim opened with rounds of 67-67 and went to beat Hinako Shibuno by two shots.

KORN FERRY TOUR

Event: KF Veritex Bank Championship, Thursday-Sunday, Texas Rangers Golf Club, Arlington, Texas.

At stake: $1 million purse ($180,000 to the winner).

Defending champion: Tyson Alexander.

TV: None.

Area players entered: Chris Baker, Ben Kohles, Jared Wolfe.

Notable: Alexander shot 67 or better each day and beat Byeong Hun An and Pontus Nyholm by two shots at 22-under.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jon Rahm's Masters victory watched by most viewers in five years