Final '13 Masters Ratings: Second Largest Audience In 12 Years

/

For Immediate Release...

THE MASTERS® ON CBS SPORTS IS SECOND-MOST WATCHED IN 12 YEARS AS ESTIMATED 44.3 MILLION VIEW ALL-OR-PART OF WEEKEND COVERAGE
 
An estimated 44.3 million viewers (Persons 2+) watched CBS Sports’ third- and final-round coverage of the 2013 Masters on Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14, making it the second largest number of viewers to watch all-or-part* of the Network’s weekend coverage of the Masters in 12 years.
 
Sunday’s final round, which saw Australia’s Adam Scott win the coveted Green Jacket in an extra-holes playoff over Argentina’s Angel Cabrera for his first career major, was watched in all-or-part by 37.4 million viewers (Persons 2+), up 13% from last year’s 33.1 million viewers.
 
Saturday and Sunday’s 44.3 million viewers was up 13% from 39.3 viewers in 2012.  Saturday’s third round was watched in all-or-part by 20.9 million viewers, up 19% from last year’s 17.5 million viewers.
 
Sunday’s final round coverage earned an average preliminary national household rating/share of 9.4/19, up 18% from last year’s 8.0/19.
 
Saturday’s third-round coverage earned an average preliminary national household rating/share of 5.8/13, up 16% from last year’s 5.0/12. 

2013 Masters, Iconic Photography Roundup

/

The light and lens experts weren't given the best conditions Sunday on top of their already limited access yet they still came up with some amazing shots from the 2013 Masters.

Sam Weinman and Alex Myers pick the photos that defined the Masters, including Jewel Samadi's Getty shot of Scott's 18th hole putt.

golf.com posts SI's best stuff from round 4 including Robert Beck's wide shot of the winning playoff putt.


Golfweek features an Adam-only gallery, including an uncredited AP image from behind Scott's 18th hole putt in regulation.

Masters.co features an assortment of beautiful shots, including Scott Brown's amazing shot of Scott's outdoor green jacket ceremony that was also posted on Digg.


The Augusta Chronicle has several galleries, including Emily Rose Bennett's shots from the Green Jacket ceremony, Jon-Michael Sullivan's images of Scott, an Angel Cabrera gallery and a top 12 players gallery.

The Chronicle also sets their shots to a YouTube video set to Come On Aussie. There is also a mute option if you should so choose.

Guan Lands Zurich Classic Exemption; Monday Finish Contingency Plans In Place?

/

Golfweek Staff has the details on 14-year-old Masters low amateur and sluggish golfer Tianlang Guan receiving a sponsor's invite into the 2013 Zurich Classic in New Orleans.

Guan, who was penalized for slow play on Friday of the Masters, received two bad times over the weekend as well. Thankfully for his sake, the PGA Tour has a moratorium on slow play penalties.

Adam Scott's Impromptu Rendition Of "Come on Aussie!"

/

Many were wondering what Adam Scott screamed in his moment of triumph after sinking the birdie putt on the 18th hole to win the Masters. Just as CBS's Ian Baker-Finch nailed the interpretation--and great call by CBS to keep the Australian golfing great involved in the final moments of the telecast to lend perspective and emotion--it was "Come On Aussie."

John Strege reviews the telecast and other Sunday media, including the CBS announcers doing some impressive lip reading:

"Did I just lip-read him, 'come on Aussies?'" Faldo asked. A slow-motion replay confirmed it.

"There's a great song at home called 'Come On Aussie, Come on,'" Australian native Ian Baker-Finch said. "That's what we've all been saying."

Here's the first verse, a fitting ode to Scott and Australian golf:

"It's been a long time comin'
"To silence all that drummin'
"To show them that it wasn't just a dream."

In the post round press conference, yours truly asked for a confirmation. Here was Scott's answer:

Q.  On 18 in regulation, when you reacted, it looked like you were saying something; do you remember what you said?

ADAM SCOTT:  Yeah.  Come on, Aussie.  Yeah, that's right.  I did, yeah.  It was maybe a natural reaction.  That's from back in my cricket days probably.

I don't know if Steve appreciated me yelling that straight toward him (laughter) but whatever.  Maybe the one time he doesn't mind.

You can find that winning moment on the Masters.com video page somewhere, perhaps sitting through a highlight video that does not have a link.

Or you can wait a few hours and we can watch an unauthorized YouTube version through some person's iphone camera and television screen.

What is on YouTube is a fine rendition of "Come on Aussie."

Two Follow-Ups To The Woods Drop Controversy

/

The Tiger Woods 15th hole drop story went a couple of directions Sunday.

In the case of this appropriately measured Barry Rhodes blog post sent in by another member of the rules community, you're seeing how the experts on these matters are reacting to Fred Ridley's invocation of Rule 33-7 to resolve the situation.

So, to be absolutely clear, the Committee waived the penalty of disqualification, because they considered that this was an exceptional individual case where such a penalty would have been too harsh. I am not aware of any other situation where a player who did not know a Rule of Golf (or if they did, they forgot about it) has been favourably treated in this way. I am therefore surprised at the ruling and believe that it may have adverse consequences in the future in similar situations.

In the conspiracy theory with just enough validity department, Augusta Chronicle photographer Michael Holahan's images today were analyzed in this unbylined wire story which suggests that Woods was

While the photos may not be conclusive evidence and they will no doubt be picked apart, Tiger does appear to be standing within inches of where he took his first shot, not the two yards that he himself thought he had moved.

Holahan maintained his location for both shots, offering a clear comparison. Television replays, on the other hand, came from different locations as an ESPN cameraman on the course set up in slightly different locations.

The photo comparison prompted more questions of Woods about the drop after his final round 70 left him four shots out of the playoff.

Q.  Is there any chance that you were mistaken when you said you were two yards back, because there were photos that looked like you were in the exact same spot?
TIGER WOODS:  No, I saw the photos.

Q.  What do you think?
TIGER WOODS:  I was behind it.

Q.  You do?
TIGER WOODS:  Yeah.

Q.  So you're pretty sure that the two yards is actually ‑‑
TIGER WOODS:  One, two yards.  But it certainly was not as close as the rule says.