After declines for the first two rounds, the U.S. Women’s Open scored a pair of increases on FOX.
Final round coverage of the U.S. Women’s Open earned a 0.9 final rating and 1.3 million viewers on FOX Sunday afternoon, up 29% in ratings and 35% in viewership from last year (0.7, 970K) but down 36% and 35%, respectively, from 2014 on NBC (1.4, 2.0M).
The 0.9 rating is tied as the second-highest for final round coverage of the event since 2009 (1.2), matching 2010 and behind only 2014.
Keep in mind this year’s coverage did not have to face PGA Tour competition, as The Greenbrier Classic was canceled due to flooding. CBS aired special replay coverage instead, earning a 0.6 and 856,000. Of the six golf telecasts airing on a broadcast network last weekend (including the Scottish Open on NBC), the final round was the highest rated and most-watched.
On Saturday, third round action drew a 0.5 and 732,000 — up a tick in ratings and 21% in viewership from last year (0.4, 605K) but down 50% and 48%, respectively, from 2014 (1.0, 1.4M).
The increases were the first for the U.S. Women’s Open on the Fox Sports family of networks. Viewership declined for each of last year’s four windows and the first two this year.
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily)
