Sunday’s final round of the 2011 British Open earned a 2.6 overnight rating on ESPN, tying last year’s final round as the lowest rated in the history of the event. Compared to the 2009 final round on broadcast network ABC, this year’s overnight declined by a third. From 1997 to 2007, final round coverage of the British Open drew at least 4% of U.S. metered market homes each year. Even in 2008 and 2009, the event still managed to earn at least a 3.5. As usual, the British Open drew significantly lower numbers than the other golf majors. Final round coverage of The Masters earned a 10.4 overnight on CBS, and the final round of the U.S. Open scored a 5.1 for NBC, according to SMW.