Wraparound Mania: Live PGA Tour Final Round Draws 116,000

Son of the Bronx continues to post ratings for cable channels and while Golf Channel was up nicely again this week over last year, you have to wonder if they wouldn't be doing better just showing international golf, reality shows, Tin Cup re-airings and special programming instead of the ratings wet suit that is the PGA Tour.

The final round of the OHL Classic from Mayacoba, Mexico, with ResetCup points on the line, a Masters berth and PGA Tour immortality for winner Harris English, had 116,000 viewers for its Sunday final round. That put it 6th for the week, behind the European Tour's final round (.1, 127k viewers), a Monday movie airing, the Saturday telecast from Mayakoba and of course, the week's top show, Big Break XX: NFL. (A rerun of Big Break on Tuesday of the previous week's episode proved to be the 14th most watched show, drawing 86,000.)

The Australian Masters final round, airing on the bottom basement of Saturday night in America from 9:30-1:30 am ET drew 92,000 viewers despite minimal promotion, no pre-game show but admittedly, a far more attractive product with Royal Melbourne, Adam Scott, Vijay Singh and Matt Kuchar as the protagonists. The Thursday night telecast (Round 2, drew 99,000 viewers.

Video: Discussing Royal Melbourne On Morning Drive

I know most of you have taped this segment, relived it over and over again and bookmarked it, but just in case here is Morning Drive from November 21 with Gary Williams and Paige Mackenzie talking about the first, third and eleventh of the Royal Melbourne composite course in use for the World Cup this week.

Viewer Discretion Advisory: Thursday Morning Drive

You Golf Channel Morning Drive watchers have been warned: I'll be on the second hour of the show airing live at 7 am ET and (I think) re-airing at 9 am ET (check those dreaded local listings.)

The opening hour will include Gary Williams interviewing Ron Sirak about the latest Golf Digest story on the USGA.

In hour two, Williams, Sirak, former USGA Executive Director David Fay and yours truly will be discussing the state of the USGA.

After that, the plan calls for a segment discussing Royal Melbourne's best holes and its amazing bunkers. So tune in!

Another Sponsor Re-ups: Sony In Hawaii Though '18

Another impressive re-signing by the PGA Tour, inking Sony to sponsorship of the Honolulu stop through 2018 even though there have been rumors for some time that Sony was lukewarm about continuing on. Instead, they have locked in to Hawaii for another four years.

For Immediate Release:

PGA TOUR and Sony Corporation Extends Sponsorship of Sony Open in Hawaii through 2018

4-year extension will bring Sony’s commitment to 20th year with PGA TOUR tournament

HONOLULU, Hawaii (November 20, 2013) – Sony Corporation, the PGA TOUR and tournament host organization Friends of Hawaii Charities today announced a four-year title sponsorship renewal of the Sony Open in Hawaii. The new agreement takes effect following the 2014 tournament at Waialae Country Club and extends Sony’s commitment through 2018, the 20th anniversary of its sponsorship.

“Sony Corporation has been a fixture with the tournament since first becoming involved in 1999, making it one of our longest continuous tournament sponsors on TOUR,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “In addition to supporting the charitable initiatives of the Friends of Hawaii, Sony has actively showcased its new products and technology at the tournament, uniquely adding to the fan experience. We are delighted that Sony will continue these efforts through this new four-year commitment.”

The 2014 Sony Open in Hawaii will be held January 9-12 and will be televised on Golf Channel from 2 p.m.-5:30 p.m. local time (7 p.m.-10:30 p.m. ET) on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. (7 p.m.-10 p.m. ET) on Sunday.

Sony is among the five longest-running tournament sponsors on the PGA TOUR. The tournament, which has always been held at Waialae Country Club, dates back to 1965. Since its inception, the Sony Open in Hawaii has generated more than $13 million for local charities.

“The extension of Sony Corporation’s sponsorship of the Sony Open in Hawaii is exciting for Hawaii’s not-for-profit and tourism sectors, as well as the many community constituencies that receive benefit,” said Corbett Kalama, President, Friends of Hawaii Charities. “The blessing of financial resources to Hawaii charities is once again doubled by a tandem commitment from Sony Open charity partner, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc.

“Additionally, valuable support from the State of Hawaii and Hawaii Tourism Authority leverages hours of Sony Open live television coverage,” Kalama continued. “This Sony Open showcase of our beautiful island home reaches a massive global audience each January, providing valuable top-of-mind promotional benefit for Hawaii's tourism industry. Together, these valuable partnerships enable Friends of Hawaii Charities to distribute $1 million to Hawaii-based, not-for-profit grant recipient projects.”

The defending champion is Russell Henley, who won in his first tournament as a member of the PGA TOUR.

Not: This Week's World Cup As Olympic Golf Preview

Dennis Pasa says this week's World Cup at Royal Melbourne offers a "glimpse of what to expect when golf returns to the Olympics at Rio de Janeiro in 2016." Until it doesn't. Which Pasa points out.

First, there is the Britain/Ireland mess in 2016 that the PGA Tour's common sense deals with. Take note IOC and friends.

At the Olympics, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland compete as Britain. But at the World Cup, England, Scotland and Wales will compete as separate countries. To muddy the waters a bit more at the World Cup, the tradition is for Ireland and Northern Ireland to compete as Ireland. McIlroy is not competing at Royal Melbourne this week, and is confident he still retains the selection choice for the Olympics.

As for the format...it's almost Olympic-like.

Players in the top 15 on the Official World Golf Ranking gain access to the World Cup, with the exception that there will be no more than four players for any country.

After the top 15, up to two players are allowed per country until the field of about 60 is filled.

It's still largely an individual event even though the old World Cup was more about the team. I say, we'll live. We get another week of great players at Royal Melbourne and the Olympic format is a lost cause anyway! 

You can follow the action online here at the PGA Tour's World Cup page. In the USA, coverage starts Wednesday night on Golf Channel at 9 pm ET.