CBS earned a 10.0/23 preliminary overnight Nielsen
rating for its final-round coverage of the PGA Championship
yesterday, which was won by Tiger Woods in a dramatic three-
hole playoff over Bob May. The rating was up 30% over last
year's 7.7/18 and the highest final-round rating since
Nielsen began recording overnights in '86. Meanwhile, CBS
earned a 5.8/15 overnight rating for Saturday's third round.
The two-day average of a 8.0/19 was up 29% from last year's
record 6.2/16. The broadcast peaked with a 17.6/33 from
7:00-7:30pm ET, and earned a 16.9/32 from 7:00-7:45pm ET
(THE DAILY). USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke praises CBS' Sunday
coverage, and writes that the network "ought to enter this
tape in the Sports Emmys nominations that NBC seems to own."
He adds that CBS "turned out the best single-day graphic
effort in memory," while anchor Jim Nantz "cemented his
place as golf's top anchor" (USA TODAY, 8/21). In Atlanta,
Prentis Rogers writes, "With built-in drama in Sunday's
finale, CBS' coverage couldn't help but look good." The
"hushed, respectful tones of Nantz or Peter Kostis mixed
with the animated irreverence of Gary McCord and David
Feherty reinforced this notion of variety being the spice of
life." Analyst Ken Venturi "also rose to the occasion with
his candor and insight" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 8/21). In
N.Y., Phil Mushnick calls yesterday's final round coverage
on CBS "spectacular theatre" (N.Y. POST, 8/21).
