Ratings and viewership increased for the final round of the British Open, but the numbers were still quite low historically. Final round coverage of the 2011 British Open earned a 2.3 U.S. rating and 3.246 million viewers on ESPN Sunday morning, up 10% in ratings and 9% in viewership from last year (2.1, 2.966M), but down 40% and 42%, respectively, from 2009, when the event aired on broadcast network ABC (3.8, 5.545M). The 2.3 rating is the second-lowest ever for the British Open, and the second-lowest for the final round of any major golf tournament dating back to 1982. Final round coverage was not only topped by Sunday’s Japan/United States Women’s World Cup final (7.4, 13.458M), but also drew fewer viewers than the United States/France semifinal (3.354M) earlier in the week. On Saturday, third round action drew a 1.8 and 2.564 million viewers on ESPN, down 22% in ratings and 18% in viewership from last year (2.3, 3.128M), and down 25% and 23%, respectively, from 2009 (2.4, 3.317M), according to SMW.