Ratings continue to dwindle for the US Women’s Open.
Last Sunday’s final round of the US Women’s Open earned a 0.5 rating and 728,000 viewers on FOX, down a tick in ratings and 17% in viewership from last year (0.6, 878K) and down a tick and 8% respectively from 2017 (0.6, 790K).
Ratings and viewership were the lowest ever for final round coverage of the event. The previous lows were set in 2017. This year marked the fifth time in seven years that the final round failed to average one million viewers.
As recently as three years ago, final round coverage had a comparably healthy 0.9 and 1.31 million. Five years ago, when Michelle Wie won, the final round had a 1.4 and 2.04 million on NBC. Thirteen years ago, when Annika Sörenstam last won, ratings and viewership reached as high as 3.1 and 4.28 million.
Keep in mind that coverage aired directly opposite the final round of the PGA Tour Memorial tournament, which featured Tiger Woods (2.1, 2.96M). While last year’s coverage also faced the Memorial, the PGA Tour event aired primarily on tape delay due to rain.
The final round was no match for the corresponding days of the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur (0.9, 1.36M) or last year’s Women’s British Open (0.7, 964K).
Third round action last Saturday had a 0.45 and 609,000, up 15% in ratings and 12% in viewership from rainout coverage last year (0.39, 543K), but down 6% and 7% respectively from 2017 (0.48, 653K).
[Numbers from Nielsen via ShowBuzz Daily 6.5]
