When Tiger Woods Wins, So Do Golf Ratings
Updating our US Open Golf chart and table with 2008 results continues to demonstrate that Tiger Woods = golf ratings win. Now that Tiger is out for the rest of this year, woe be to the broadcasters.
Full 1971-2008 US Open Golf TV Ratings Detail:
| Year | Viewers | HH Rating | Share | Telecasts | Network | Winner |
| 1971 | 6.4 | 25 | 2 | ABC | Lee Trevino | |
| 1972 | 9.1 | 28 | 2 | ABC | Jack Nicklaus | |
| 1973 | 9.0 | 30 | 2 | ABC | Johnny Miller | |
| 1974 | 7.3 | 25 | 2 | ABC | Hale Irwin | |
| 1975 | 6.8 | 23 | 3 | ABC | Lou Graham | |
| 1976 | 7.3 | 23 | 2 | ABC | Jerry Pate | |
| 1977 | 5.5 | 21 | 2 | ABC | Hubert Green | |
| 1978 | 5.8 | 22 | 2 | ABC | Andy North | |
| 1979 | 5.2 | 19 | 2 | ABC | Hale Irwin | |
| 1980 | 6.1 | 20 | 2 | ABC | Jack Nicklaus | |
| 1981 | 7.5 | 25 | 2 | ABC | David Graham | |
| 1982 | 6.9 | 21 | 2 | ABC | Tom Watson | |
| 1983 | 5.9 | 18 | 3 | ABC | Larry Nelson | |
| 1984 | 5.9 | 17 | 3 | ABC | Fuzzy Zoeller* | |
| 1985 | 6.3 | 19 | 2 | ABC | Andy North | |
| 1986 | 5.6 | 19 | 2 | ABC | Raymond Floyd | |
| 1987 | 8.85 | 6.8 | 19 | 2 | ABC | Scott Simpson |
| 1988 | 5.31 | 4.3 | 13 | 5 | ABC | Curtis Strange* |
| 1989 | 6.41 | 5.0 | 16 | 2 | ABC | Curtis Strange |
| 1990 | 6.30 | 5.1 | 17 | 3 | ABC | Hale Irwin* |
| 1991 | 5.30 | 4.4 | 14 | 3 | ABC | Payne Stewart* |
| 1992 | 3.63 | 5.7 | 17 | 2 | ABC | Tom Kite |
| 1993 | 5.86 | 4.8 | 16 | 2 | ABC | Lee Janzen |
| 1994 | 5.76 | 4.6 | 15 | 3 | ABC | Ernie Els* |
| 1995 | 6.26 | 5.0 | 17 | 2 | NBC | Corey Pavin |
| 1996 | 5.32 | 4.2 | 14 | 4 | NBC | Steve Jones |
| 1997 | 7.09 | 5.5 | 18 | 4 | NBC | Ernie Els |
| 1998 | 5.91 | 4.6 | 14 | 4 | NBC | Lee Janzen |
| 1999 | 6.69 | 5.1 | 16 | 4 | NBC | Payne Stewart |
| 2000 | 8.24 | 6.0 | 16 | 4 | NBC | Tiger Woods |
| 2001 | 7.62 | 5.5 | 16 | 4 | NBC | Retief Goosen* |
| 2002 | 10.75 | 7.5 | 20 | 2 | NBC | Tiger Woods |
| 2003 | 5.72 | 4.2 | 12 | 4 | NBC | Jim Furyk |
| 2004 | 6.31 | 4.4 | 13 | 4 | NBC | Retief Goosen |
| 2005 | 5.82 | 4.2 | 12 | 4 | NBC | Michael Campbell |
| 2006 | 5.00 | 3.5 | 9 | 4 | NBC | Geoff Ogilvy |
| 2007 | 6.49 | 4.5 | 12 | 4 | NBC | Angel Cabrera |
| 2008 | 7.83 | 5.3 | 13 | 5 | NBC | Tiger Woods* |
*playoff
Nielsen TV Ratings Data: ©2008 Nielsen Media Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The 2006's final round was one of the most exciting golf major rounds ever and it drew the lowest numbers beacause Woods's missed the cut. That means only one thing: many viewers aren't interested in golf but in Tiger Woods. Which is kinda sad
The 2006's final round was one of the most exciting golf major rounds ever and it drew the lowest numbers beacause Woods's missed the cut. That means only one thing: many viewers aren't interested in golf but in Tiger Woods. Which is kinda sad