The U.S. Open continues to fade as a marquee television draw.
Final round coverage of the U.S. Open had a 3.5 overnight rating on FOX Sunday, down 8% from last year (3.8), down 27% from 2015 (4.8), and the tournament’s second-lowest for final round overnight on record (dating back to 1988), ahead of 2014 on NBC (3.3).
The past four final rounds rank among the five lowest rated on record. As recently as 2013, final round coverage had a comparably robust 6.1. That was the last year Tiger Woods made the cut. Final round overnights never dipped below 5.1 from 1989-2013.
Sunday’s 3.5 is also the lowest final round overnight for any major since the 2015 British Open on ESPN, which was postponed to Monday due to rain (2.6). Last year’s final rounds of the British Open and PGA Championship each posted a 3.9.
Host market Milwaukee led all markets with a 10.3 rating.
Saturday’s third round coverage earned a 2.55 overnight, matching last year as the tournament’s lowest third round overnight on record. Friday’s second round coverage delivered a 1.1 across FOX and Fox Sports 1, the same as last year and down 32% from 2015. The 1.1 is tied as the lowest on record for second round coverage, matching last year and 2011.
[Wknd. numbers from Fox Sports PR/Twitter 6.19, Sports Business Daily 6.19]
