"Up guaranteed": Legendary CBS golf broadcaster's bold prediction on PGA Tour TV ratings

Jim Nantz is poised to call several golf tournaments this year on the PGA Tour. CBS will air 19 tournaments throughout the 2025 season, including the 2025 Masters and the PGA Championship.

Nantz has been doing this for decades. The Masters this year will represent his 40th time calling that particular tournament. He's seen all the ups and downs of golf over the last few years, particularly in the ratings department.

Golf hasn't been watched in recent years as often as it has been in the past. The fan interest has waned, which is something all parties in the sport are acutely aware of. Both sides of the PGA x LIV debate have spoken about trying to get fans engaged again.

Nantz believes they will be in 2025. He offered a bold prediction for the Tour's television ratings in 2025 via Golf Digest:

“I will say this … slam dunk of the year: I'm not a ratings crunchers type guy, but golf is going to come out of the West Coast on over the air network television, and it's going to be up guaranteed, OK? You just never know how it rolls out, but so often you get started with name champions. and I think we have rich storylines that are going to take place on this west coast, and we're going to be off and running. We're gonna be galloping.”

The Tour has consistently pulled in more viewers than LIV Golf over the last few seasons, but Nantz expects them to finally start going back up again this season. Reports indicate that non-Major tournaments last year were down as much as 20% from the previous year.

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Jim Nantz addresses PGA Tour tournament moving out of LA

Legendary sports broadcaster Jim Nantz will not be able to visit Riviera Country Club for the Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles. The PGA Tour is moving the tournament due to the LA wildfires.

Jim Nantz reflected on the PGA Tour's decision (Image via Imagn)

It wasn't supposed to take place until February 16, but the Tour pre-emptively moved it away after wildfires ravaged the region. This was the right move in Nantz's eyes even if it meant he wouldn't get to visit the iconic venue for Tiger Woods' event.

He said via Golf Digest:

“Our hearts go out to everybody [in the L.A. community] and this is clearly the right decision. There's just no way that you can justify having a golf tournament with all the devastation that's right there in the area of the club itself.

“So, like everyone else, we're anxious to hear the new plan. I know it's going to be special wherever they go and I'm sure there'll be a lot of attention going back to the folks who need to be remembered and thought of as this tournament takes a new home for one year. I’m going to miss it.”

The Tour has not yet determined the alternative location for the event. But it will likely be somewhere on the western side of the US since the PGA Tour is in the West Coast Swing of its schedule.