The latest Masters TV ratings came with a twist. Here's why
Another Rory McIlroy Masters win has brought another year of record TV ratings. But why did last year’s win FEEL so much bigger? Getty Images Comparison may be the thief of joy, but if you were lucky enough to wind up in the gallery on each of the last two Masters Sundays, it was only natural to spend a little while exploring the parallels.
On each of the last two Masters Sundays, Rory McIlroy stepped to the first tee cast at the center of the gravitational pull of golf’s largest event . On each of the last two Masters Sundays, he endured a final round that featured incredible highs and impressive disaster in equal parts. And, on each of the last two Masters Sundays, McIlroy emerged on the 18 th green at the top of the pack, enjoyed an emotional walk to the scorer’s tent, cruised to Butler Cabin, and slipped his shoulders into a green jacket.
And yet, for all of their spine-tingling similarities, the differences between the two McIlroy wins were even more striking. The crowd on this Masters Sunday seemed excited but not totally euphoric. The winner on this Masters Sunday seemed emotional but not completely overcome.
And the larger impact of the victory on this Masters Sunday seemed respectful but not quite earth-shattering. In nearly all ways, this was perfectly understandable. Rory McIlroy can only end a decade-long epoch in pursuit of major glory once.
He can only complete the career Grand Slam with a victory at one of the sport’s holiest sites, Augusta National, once. And he can only deliver a reaction of instant-iconography once. But then, early last week, the TV ratings came out suggesting something entirely different.
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