Tiger Effect: You won't believe the weekend TV ratings at Valspar!

Nearly 5.5 million minutes were streamed on Golf Channel and NBC Sports Digital on Saturday, a statistic that is up 612% against 2017. 

He may be the biggest name in sports, matched only by Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali. Does he still move the needle? The answer is yes.

--- Neal H. Pilson, former president of CBS Sports and president of Pilson Communications, Inc.

Woods carded a third-round 67 to move to within one shot of the lead heading into Sunday, but could only muster a closing 70 to finish one shot shy of the victory behind Paul Casey. 

NBC's David Feherty said...

The game is so much better with him in it. The game has been really good with these kids we have at the top of the game at the moment. It’s been phenomenal for the last few years, but people have short memories. If you saw the crowds Tiger has drawn these last weeks, dwarfing the crowds of the last group. People just want to get a glimpse of him. It’s extraordinary the effect that he’s had and continues to exert on the game. It really is something to see. If he can get back into contention, playing well again? Boy.

WATCH: KID'S REACTION TO RECEIVING TIGER AUTOGRAPH WILL MELT YOUR HEART

We await final round viewing figures, but we can only assume similar pecentage increases. 

With Woods and Phil Mickelson surging back into form, you have to believe the 2018 Masters next month will be one of the most viewed golf TV broacasts in years. Maybe ever.

Are you more excited to watch golf now Tiger is back in town, or aren't you too bothered? Share your thoughts in the forum or join us on social media.