With Tiger Woods out of the picture, final round ratings for the 2011 U.S. Open plunged to record lows on NBC.
Final round coverage of the U.S. Open earned a 4.5 final rating and 7.4 million viewers on NBC Sunday afternoon, down 22% in ratings and 20% in viewership from last year (5.8, 9.266M), and down 4% and up 5% respectively, compared to 2009 (4.7, 7.073M).
The 4.5 rating is tied as the lowest ever for Sunday coverage of the U.S. Open, matching only 1988. This is just the seventh time since 1982 that Sunday coverage has failed to attract even 5% of U.S. TV homes.
For some perspective, the final round of the U.S. Open was not even the top NBC sporting event of the week, trailing Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final (BOS/VAN G7: 4.8, 8.540M).
Keep in mind Sunday’s final round did not hit a record-low in viewership, topping comparable coverage in 2009 (7.073M), 2006 (6.954M) and 2003 (6.772M).
Tiger Woods did not play in this year’s tournament due to injury. He finished in a tie for fourth last year, and tied for sixth in 2009. When he last won the tournament in 2008, Sunday coverage drew a 7.5 rating and 12.080 million viewers.
(This year’s rating from USA Today; this year’s viewership from Sports Business Daily)
