With Tiger Woods back in the field (albeit not for long), US Open ratings got off to a better start on FOX.
Thursday’s opening round of the U.S. Open averaged 1.39 million viewers across FOX and FS1, up 20% from last year (1.16M) and up 73% from rainout coverage in 2016 (805K).
It was the most-watched opening round since 2015, which marked both Woods’ previous appearance and the last time the tournament took place on the West Coast, allowing for primetime coverage (1.95M).
Excluding West Coast tournaments, it was the most-watched opening round since 2013 (1.84M).
FOX earned a 1.5 rating and 2.15 million for its three hours of coverage, up 50% in ratings and 41% in viewership from coverage in a later timeslot last year (1.0, 1.5M). FOX coverage was rained out two years ago.
FS1 averaged a 1.05 million for its seven hours of coverage, up 4% from last year (1.00M) and up 42% from rain-affected coverage in 2016 (736K).
Compared to other majors, the first round of the U.S. Open was no match for the opening round of the Masters on ESPN (2.97M), but comfortably topped first round coverage of last year’s PGA Championship (1.06M, TNT) and British Open (547K on Golf Channel). The latter aired in the early morning hours.
[Numbers from Programming Insider 6.15]
