Rory McIlroy’s Worst Fears Come True After Tiger Woods’ Devastating Injury Setback

Tiger Woods made a triumphant return to competitive golf last weekend at the PNC Championship in Orlando, Florida, drawing a massive surge in viewership as he teamed up with his son, Charlie. This marked Woods’ first tournament since undergoing his sixth lower-back surgery in September and his first appearance since The Open Championship in July.

The highlight of the event came when Charlie Woods achieved his first hole-in-one on the fourth hole par 3. Reflecting on the moment, Woods said, “That was the thrill of a lifetime to be able to have that moment with Charlie, make his first hole-in-one, [daughter] Sam on the bag, just our family and friends. That’s what this event is about. It’s about bonding and family.”

While the Woods duo didn’t win the tournament, Tiger expressed satisfaction with their performance. “I know we didn’t win, but it was the fact that we competed. No one really made a mistake out there. We had to earn it, and that’s what you want to have. Hats off to Langers. They played amazing,” he said, referring to the winning team led by Bernhard Langer.

Tiger’s return proved to be a major draw for audiences. Day one of the PNC Championship averaged 2.92 million viewers, a 147% increase from the previous year and the highest opening day viewership in the tournament’s history since its inception in 1995, according to Sports Media Watch. Day two also saw a notable increase, with 1.42 million viewers tuning in—a 32% rise from 2023.

The so-called “Tiger effect” has provided a stark contrast to the declining viewership trends seen in other major golf tournaments this year. For example, the 152nd Open Championship in July recorded its lowest audience since 2015, with 3.39 million viewers, while the Masters’ final round saw a 20% drop in viewership compared to 2022.

Rory McIlroy has attributed some of the sport’s struggles to the ongoing feud between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. “If you look at the TV ratings of the PGA Tour this year, they’re down 20 percent across the board. That’s a fifth. That’s big,” McIlroy noted. “I just think with the fighting and everything that’s gone on… people are just getting fatigued, and it’s turning people off men’s professional golf.”

Despite broader challenges, Tiger Woods’ return has reignited excitement in the sport, highlighting his enduring ability to captivate audiences.