Tuesday, September 15, 2026

U.S. Open TV Ratings Down 8% After Rain Delay, Underdog Winner

U.S. Open TV ratings were down at Oakmont Country Club, as rain delayed the final round and a first-time major champion winner took the victory.

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

TV ratings for the U.S. Open were down a touch from last year but still relatively strong given the lack of star power on the leaderboard and a significant weather delay Sunday.

NBC and Peacock combined to average 5.4 million viewers for the final round, which suffered a roughly 90-minute stoppage of play as rain soaked Oakmont Country Club, before PGA Tour journeyman J.J. Spaun, a 150-to-1 pretournament underdog, beat Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre by two strokes.

That’s down just over 8% from last year’s U.S. Open, which averaged 5.9 viewers as Bryson DeChambeau outdueled Rory McIlroy at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. 

Before the weather delay began Sunday, final-round viewership was trending up 6% compared to the same time slot (noon to 4 p.m. ET). Ratings peaked at 9 million viewers just after 8 p.m. ET.

Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm, who each finished tied for seventh, five strokes behind Spaun, were the highest-finishing previous major champions on the leaderboard.

Complete four-round U.S. Open coverage on linear channels NBC and USA Network averaged 2.9 million viewers, down from 3.1 million in 2024. That marks the second-most-watched East Coast U.S. Open since 2013. U.S. Opens at West Coast venues like Pebble Beach Golf Links traditionally draw higher TV ratings as they finish primetime viewing hours.

The 2025 U.S. Open, which included 10 and a half hours of exclusive coverage on Peacock, was the most-streamed golf event in NBC Sports history.

NBC is entering the final year of its USGA media-rights deal in 2026 and is currently negotiating a potential contract extension to keep broadcasting the U.S. Open and other championships.

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

Sign up for the
Tuned In Newsletter

Get the latest sports media scoops & insights straight to your inbox once a week.

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

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

Smith signed a nine-figure contract with ESPN last year.
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

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

The subscription streaming service posted an increase in global viewership.

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.
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.”
Oct 31, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) and pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) celebrate with the Commissioner's Trophy in the clubhouse after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre.

World Series G7 Audience Count Final: 51M Across U.S., Canada, Japan

The average global audience for Game 7 surpassed 51 million viewers.
October 31, 2025

Frozen Frenzy Ratings Climb 20% Despite Scheduling Complaints

The hockey event posts a 20% viewership bump, despite World Series competition.
November 2, 2025

ESPN Still Dark on YouTube TV As ‘MNF’ Looms

ABC and ESPN’s college football slate was blacked out Saturday.
Sponsored

Drew Weatherford’s Bet on the Youth Sports Economy

Drew Weatherford discusses investing across the youth, college and professional levels.
October 31, 2025

YouTube TV Loses ESPN, ABC Just Before Big Sports Weekend

More than 20 channels go dark on the No. 4 U.S. pay-TV distributor.
Rich Paul
Exclusive
October 31, 2025

Rich Paul, Max Kellerman in Talks for Show With The Ringer

“The Ringer” sold to Spotify in 2020.
Oct 28, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) throws his bat after hitting a two run home run as Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) looks on during the third inning of game four of the 2025 MLB World Series at Dodger Stadium.
October 30, 2025

World Series Game 5: Largest Jays Audience Ever on Canadian TV

Canadian viewership continues to be a major storyline of the World Series.
Dec 10, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) talks with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) after a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
October 30, 2025

CBS Betting on Chiefs-Bills Delivering Big Once Again

Big viewership likely awaits the revival of the NFL rivalry.