Media
U.S. Open 2024: Bryson DeChambeau vs. Rory McIlroy duel delivers strong TV ratings
Ross Kinnaird
Bryson DeChambeau was a crowd favorite at Pinehurst No. 2 during his U.S. Open victory. Turns out, plenty of people were watching him at home as well.
NBC released ratings for the 2024 U.S. Open on Tuesday, and reported that DeChambeau's duel with Rory McIlroy delivered strong numbers. Sunday's final-round coverage on the network and Peacock drew a 2.8 rating and produced a total audience delivery of 5.9 million viewers across the seven-hour window, making it the most-watched East Coast final round since 2013 when Justin Rose edged Phil Mickelson and others at Merion.
Even more impressive, however, were the peak viewership numbers. NBC's Sunday broadcast drew 11.4 million viewers from 6:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET and 11.3 million from 6:30 to 6:45 when DeChambeau made his incredible par save on the 72nd hole just moments after McIlroy missed a short par putt at 18 to extend his major championship drought to a full decade.
It was the highest peak viewership since the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, when Dustin Johnson three-putted the 72nd hole to give Jordan Spieth a second consecutive major victory.
Numbers were down slightly (6 percent in viewership and 11 percent in ratings) from the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club. However, being on the West Coast, that broadcast spilled over into prime time.
Overall, NBC announced the 2024 U.S. Open was its most-streamed golf event on record with overall consumption up 17 percent over last year's tournament.