Paige Spiranac has a theory about plummeting Masters ratings

Paige Spiranac offered an interesting theory Tuesday as to why the TV ratings for the final round of the 2024 Masters slid compared to last year’s.

When responding to a post on X from Nuclr Golf that reported 9.589 million viewers tuned in Sunday to watch Scottie Scheffler win his second green jacket — “a 20% drop from last year and the lowest-rated Masters since Hideki [Matsuyama’s] win in 2021” — the longtime golf influencer surmised the sport’s climate as of late could be a contributing factor.

“Golf is in an interesting spot right now. People turned off by all the money talk and the industry’s unwillingness to try new things. Some change needs to happen,” Spiranac wrote.

Paige Spiranac spoke about the decline in Masters ratings in a message on X. Paige Spiranac/Instagram

Though Spiranac didn’t delve into specifics, much has changed within recent years, particularly the civil war between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed league that has lured top players to its circuit with monster paydays.

However, the PGA Tour stunningly revealed last June it would be joining forces with rival LIV.

Although minimal progress has been made, Tiger Woods said Sunday at the Masters, “We’re headed in the right direction.”

Scottie Scheffler ahead of the final round of the 2024 Masters on April 14, 2024. Getty Images Scottie Scheffler won the 2024 Masters on April 14, 2024. REUTERS

Scheffler, the 2022 Masters champion, kept his foot on the gas Sunday as he cruised to his second victory at Augusta National in three years, shooting a final-round 68 to finish the week at 11-under par.

The final round of the 2023 Masters featured Jon Rahm capturing his first green jacket with a four-stroke lead over LIV Golf stars Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson.

The event averaged 12.06 million viewers and was the most-watched golf telecast in the past five years.

Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka faced off in the final round of the 2023 Masters. REUTERS

It also took place on Easter Sunday (April 9), with Sports Illustrated noting “a bump of 21% in out-of-home viewership” for 2023 versus “only a 9% out-of-home increase” this year.

Spiranac, who boasts four million followers on Instagram, had been posting from Augusta throughout Masters week.

She congratulated Max Homa on an impressive Masters performance after he finished the week at 4-under par and tied for third with Collin Morikawa.

Paige Spiranac posted on social media throughout Masters week. Paige Spiranac/Instagram

“Max is such a good guy and you know he’s so close to getting that major win!” she posted Sunday on X.

The PGA Tour travels to Hilton Head, S.C., this week for the RBC Heritage event while LIV Golf will venture to Adelaide, Australia, next week.