British Open ratings have surged to multi-year highs this year, and that is not including a presumably huge number for Sunday’s star-studded conclusion.
Saturday’s third round of the British Open earned a 2.6 rating and 3.72 million viewers on NBC, per Nielsen fast-nationals — up 24% in ratings and 21% in viewership from last year (2.1, 3.07M) and up 8% and 12% respectively from 2016 (2.4, 3.31M).
Ratings and viewership were the highest for the third round of The Open since 2013 on ESPN (2.7, 3.78M).
Figures do not include two hours of early morning coverage on NBC.
The telecast, which peaked with 4.3 million from Noon-12:15 PM ET, had a streaming audience of 49,000 on NBC Sports’ digital platforms (+23%). Across TV and streaming, it had 3.77 million — still the highest since 2013.
Tiger Woods shot up the leaderboard Saturday and briefly took the lead, setting the stage for a star-studded Sunday certain to generate even stronger numbers. Woods has played 21 rounds on broadcast television this season and 20 of those have posted an increase in ratings and viewership.
On Friday, second round coverage had 1.1 million on Golf Channel, including streaming viewership and excluding the early morning hours. It was the most-watched weekday round of The Open since ESPN last aired the event in 2015.
[Numbers from NBC Sports]
