Tiger Effect: CBS reveals giant TV audience spike following US PGA

The US PGA may have proven a tough one to watch comfortably this side of the pond, but the story was a little different in the United States as CBS Sports is reporting a whopping 73% increase in final-round viewing figures against 2017.

Tiger Woods raced through the field with a 6-under 64 to finish runner-up behind winner Brooks Koepka, who collected his third major title in his last six major starts. 

An average 8.5 million watched in the US - up from 4.9 million when Justin Thomas secured his first major title last year - the highest figure since 2009 when Woods again finished runner-up.

TV viewing figures reached a high of 12.3 million at the conclusion of play at 7pm ET. 

CBS golf writer summarised things perfectly in his tweet: "Tiger Woods wins the 2018 PGA Championship with a score of -14. Brooks Koepka finishes second at -16."

Woods' return to golf has seemingy fuelled people's interests in the sport again, especially in final round of majors.

NBC's final round coverage of The Open - which saw Woods lead with eight holes remaining - was up 38% on the final round of the 2017 Open won by Jordan Spieth, while The Masters final round coverage - where Woods was down the field in 32nd - saw an 18% rise. 

The US PGA coverage for many UK and Ireland golf fans proved a little different on streaming site Eleven Sports, which saw technical glitches happen all too frequently and a lack of true insight into the game across all four days - depicted none better than Brooks Koepka being referred to as "Bruce" at times and the stream cutting out during his winning putt.