Overnight ratings for the season’s third golf major declined double-digits from last year.
Final round coverage of the British Open earned a 2.6 overnight rating on ESPN Sunday morning, down 28% from last year (3.6), down 21% from 2012 (3.3), and tied as the lowest overnight for final round coverage of the event.
Overnights have now declined double-digits for the final round of each major this year. The Masters earned a 7.8 on CBS (-24%) and the U.S. Open drew a 3.3 (-46%).
In addition, overnights for all three of Rory McIlroy‘s major victories have declined. His 2011 U.S. Open win drew a 5.1 (-26% from 2010) and his 2012 PGA Championship win earned a 3.9 (-9% from 2011). Keep in mind the latter aired opposite the Olympic Games.
Third round British Open coverage earned a 1.2 overnight on Saturday. This year’s coverage aired in a much earlier timeslot than usual due to inclement weather (5:00-11:15 AM). Third round coverage drew a 3.1 overnight last year and a 3.0 in 2012, both in the traditional 9:00 AM-2:45 PM timeslot.