The 2023 U.S. Open was the most-watched edition of the event since 2019, NBC Sports said in a media release Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know:
- The entire event averaged a Total Audience Delivery of 3.4 million viewers on NBC, Peacock and USA Network, the best since the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and up 27 percent from last year.
- Sunday’s final round on NBC, Peacock and NBC Sports Digital averaged 8.8 million viewers in prime time and peaked at 10.2 million viewers from 9:30-9:45 p.m. ET. Full final-round coverage on NBC, Peacock and NBC Sports Digital (between 1 p.m. and 10:09 p.m. ET) averaged 6.2 million viewers, the most since 2019.
- Wyndham Clark won the 2023 U.S. Open with a -10 for the tournament, edging out Rory McIlroy by one shot.
https://t.co/ZgU1hPQuV1 pic.twitter.com/Q44fFJagQC
— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) June 20, 2023
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
What drew fans to this year’s tournament?
Primetime golf. That is something the sport doesn’t get often, but this West Coast major meant the leaders were teeing off around 6 p.m. ET. Golf has also been in the middle of a moment ever since the pandemic led to the greatest increase of people playing golf in history, but this week especially hit a perfect convergence of storylines that likely brought in viewers.
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First, you have the news that the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia are joining forces, ending the golf war with LIV. Then you have a fascinating, secretive U.S. Open venue in Los Angeles Country Club that nobody had seen and so many golf fans were psyched to watch. And then you finish with a near-perfect leaderboard of superstar Rory McIlroy one shot off the lead, fan favorite Rickie Fowler rediscovering his game and entering Sunday as co-leader and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler lurking three shots back. Add in the heartwarming story of Clark nearly quitting golf and winning in honor of his late mother? It was as juicy of an overall Sunday night as golf could ask for. — Miller
What to make of the ratings
Golf viewership on television always gets a boost when the final round is tight — especially at a major — and NBC got the benefit of a competitive Sunday, featuring popular players such as McIlroy in contention. Then there was the primetime element: The telecast peaked at 10.2 million viewers from 9:30-9:45 p.m. ET as Clark was busy holding off McIlroy to win his first major championship. It was the most-watched U.S. Open final round since 2019 at Pebble Beach (where Tiger Woods finished T-21).
There was also a nice momentum play here as well as second-round coverage on USA Network was the most watched U.S. Open second round on cable since 2013 (1.76 million viewers). I don’t anticipate a viewership carryover over the next couple of weeks because I think this number was specific to this event but the PGA Tour, which has endless bad publicity, will take it. They had an excellent weekend. — Deitsch
Required reading
(Photo: Michael Madrid / USA Today)
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