Tuesday, September 15, 2026

U.S. Open Draws 5.5M Viewers, Still Trails PGA Championship

NBC averaged 5.5 million viewers for the final round of the U.S. Open on Sunday, as Wyndham Clark won the tournament for the second time.

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

NBC averaged 5.5 million viewers for the final round of the U.S. Open on Sunday, as Wyndham Clark won the tournament for the second time in four years and in front of a hostile Long Island crowd at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.

That audience is up 2% from the audience of 5.4 million viewers who tuned in to last year’s U.S. Open Sunday, as J.J. Spaun overcame 150–1 betting odds—and a rain delay—to win his first major championship at Oakmont Country Club.

Sunday’s audience peaked at 9.3 million viewers late in the final round.

The average viewer count marks the second-most watched East Coast-based U.S. Open since 2013, behind the 2024 tournament that drew 5.9 million viewers as Bryson DeChambeau outdueled Rory McIlroy at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. 

U.S. Open audiences are typically higher when the major is played on the West Coast—the 2023 edition at Los Angeles Country Club averaged 6.2 million viewers in the final round.

Third-round coverage from Shinnecock on Saturday averaged 3.7 million viewers, up 3% from last year.

All NBC coverage was simulcast on Peacock, which was NBC Sports’ most-streamed golf event on record, with overall consumption up 13% compared to the 2025 U.S. Open.

Major Comparison

Despite the increase in viewership over last year, the final round of the U.S. Open failed to outrate the PGA Championship for the first time since 2021, and fell to third among the three U.S.-based golf majors this year.

  • Masters: 13.99 million (CBS)
  • PGA Championship: 5.76 million (CBS)
  • U.S. Open: 5.5 million (NBC)

The final round of the PGA Championship in May had a crowded leaderboard that ended with Aaron Rai surprising most fans to win his first major. The Masters drew its largest final-round audience in 11 years as Rory McIlroy won his second consecutive Green Jacket.

The final major of the year, the Open Championship, played in the U.K., almost always draws the lowest U.S. audience of the four majors. Next month’s edition is being played at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England.

Meanwhile, NBC in March averaged 4.4 million viewers for the final round of the Players Championship, which was up 15% from last year.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Zverev Beats Shelton as American Men’s Grand Slam Drought Continues

Zverev won the US Open for his second Grand Slam of 2026.

Rybakina Wins First US Open Title, World No. 1, and $5.5M

The 27-year-old will officially become No. 1 in the world on Monday.

Taylor Fritz’s Latest Ball Complaint: Retail Ones Are ‘Miserable’

Fritz was knocked out of the US Open in the third round.
Jun 17, 2026; Southampton, New York, USA; Bryson DeChambeau (L) and Jon Rahm (R) walk together during a practice round for the U.S. Open golf tournament.

LIV Players in Spotlight in Bankruptcy Process

Star players could serve on a key creditors committee.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

9/15/26 – NFL Kickoff Ratings Dip, Ballmer Accepts Punishment, Sweeney Ad Backlash

0:00

Featured Today

Oct 4, 2025; Tempe, AZ, USA; General action during the first period of the game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Mullett Arena

How Military-Style Workouts in College Sports Get Dangerous

For elite athletes, high-intensity training can be “very appealing.”
September 6, 2026

Is Carolyn Tisch Blodgett the Future Face of Giants Ownership?

Amid changes at top of Giants ownership, eyes are on Tisch Blodgett.
September 4, 2026

Wild Transfer Window Shows How Premier League Towers Over Soccer

Spending in England vastly outstripped the rest of Europe.
September 3, 2026

Teams Are Spending Millions to Build Luxury Locker Rooms

It’s a recruiting pitch, a retention tool, and a seven-figure line item.
September 1, 2026

High School Football Sidelines Are Clogged With Content Creators

Administrators call these amateur newcomers the “pajama paparazzi.”

Stephen A. Smith: McAfee Has a ‘Different Set of Rules’ at ESPN

Smith signed a nine-figure contract with ESPN last year.
Oct 1, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Former Houston Texans JJ Watt speaks to the fans during his Ring Of Honor Ceremony at halftime during the game between the Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Opinion
September 14, 2026

J.J. Watt Wasn’t Better Than Tony Romo—but He Was Good Enough

Watt will remain with CBS’s top team for at least two more weeks.
Sep 11, 2026; Melbourne, AUS; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (5) makes a touchdown catch over Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jaylen Watson (35) in the second half at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
September 14, 2026

Netflix’s Australia Game Ties YouTube’s NFL Numbers From Brazil

The subscription streaming service posted an increase in global viewership.
Sponsored

Drew Weatherford’s Bet on the Youth Sports Economy

Drew Weatherford discusses investing across the youth, college and professional levels.
Aug 8, 2026; Canton, OH, USA; Chris Berman moderates the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Exclusive
September 14, 2026

How ESPN Will Use Chris Berman in Its Super Bowl Coverage

Berman has covered 44 straight Super Bowls and watched all 60.
Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) speaks during a committee event with the Artemis II crew members on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 12, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
September 12, 2026

ESPN Faces Criticism for Giving Ted Cruz ‘GameDay’ Air Time

No opponents of the Protect College Sports Act have been interviewed on “GameDay.”
September 12, 2026

Revamped McAfee Kicking Contest Pays First Winner $1.2M

The contest has entered its fourth season on College GameDay.
The Herd
Exclusive
September 12, 2026

Colin Cowherd Buys Stake in EPL’s Ipswich

Other Ipswich investors include Marques Colston and Ed Sheeran.