When Tiger Woods Is In Contention, TV Ratings Soar
The spike in 2008 was driven by Tiger Woods' exciting tie on the final hole of regulation and then 18 hole playoff victory, with a broken leg. How high could TV ratings go this year?
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: ©2009 Nielsen Media Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
