Despite Fireworks, U.S. Open Final Round Audience Falls 5%

With the eyes of the golf world on the PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf feud, NBC Sports posted some disappointing audience numbers for Matt Fitzpatrick’s victory at the 2022 U.S. Open.

NBC’s coverage of Sunday’s Final Round from The Country Club at Brookline averaged a total audience delivery of 5.41 million viewers. That was down 5% from the 5.67 million viewers who tuned in for Jon Rahm’s win in prime time last year at Torrey Pines.

The audience peaked at 9.2 million viewers from 6:30 to 6:45 p.m. ET as Fitzpatrick battled Will Zalatoris and Scottie Scheffler for the title. 

On the other hand, NBC could point to several positive metrics as it tries to fend off the challenge from Greg Norman’s Saudi-backed breakaway league:

• Sunday’s final round was the most-watched sporting event of the weekend. It was also the most-watched final round from an East Coast-based U.S. Open since 2013 (Merion). And up 65% from the last East Coast U.S. Open (Winged Foot) in 2020.
• The tournament was the most-streamed golf event in NBC history, totalling 244 million minutes for all four rounds. That’s up 74% from last year.
• Post-final-round coverage on Golf Channel averaged 176,000 viewers, up 48% from last year.

Across the country, Boston, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Minneapolis, and Providence ranked as the Top 5 markets for the final round in TV ratings. 

LIV Golf, meanwhile, has been unable to strike a TV deal in the U.S., showing its maiden tournament on YouTube.