TV ratings for Masters final round down slightly

[April 14, 2009]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Television ratings for the final round of the Masters are down slightly from last year.

This year's final round fell on Easter Sunday, when fewer people were watching TV. CBS said Monday its coverage drew a fast national rating of 8.3 and a 20 share. It earned an 8.6/18 in 2008.

The rating peaked during the playoff at a 10.0/21. When Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were finishing their rounds, it was a 9.4/23. Each started the final round seven shots back but made a run at the leaders.

An estimated 42 million viewers watched all or part of the weekend coverage. That's the most since 2001, when Woods won his fourth straight major.

The rating is the percentage of all homes with TVs. The share is the percentage of in-use televisions tuned to the broadcast.

[Associated Press]

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