Open Championship Final Round Viewership Rises, Fox's Win Draws Strong Audience

The final round of the Open Championship, where Ryan Fox secured an unexpected victory, averaged 4.3 million viewers on NBC. This figure represents a 6% increase from the previous year's tournament and marks the most-watched final round for the Open since 2022. Viewership peaked at 6.1 million on NBC and Peacock between 1:15-1:30 p.m. ET as Fox clinched the Claret Jug by a single shot over Cameron Young at Royal Birkdale Golf Club.

The Open's final round typically concludes in the early afternoon on the U.S. East Coast due to the time difference, contrasting with the later finishes of other majors played stateside. This year's audience slightly surpassed the 4.1 million viewers who tuned in for Scottie Scheffler's four-shot win over Harris English at the 2025 Open at Royal Portrush. Scheffler is currently a leading contender in upcoming events, priced at +300 (FanDuel).

Last year's final-round viewership for the Open marked a 21% increase over the 2023 tournament, which saw Xander Schauffele claim victory at Royal Troon. Schauffele remains a prominent player on tour, with his current odds listed at +1800 (Bovada). Ryan Fox, the most recent Open champion, is currently available at +12500 (Bovada), reflecting his status as a longer shot in upcoming tournaments. Cameron Young, who finished second to Fox, is priced at +2200 (FanDuel).

The trend of increased viewership extends beyond the Open Championship, as all four men's golf majors this season reported increases in their final-round audiences. The collection of ratings for this year's events utilized Nielsen's Big Data + Panel methodology. Harris English, who was runner-up to Scheffler in 2025, is currently priced at +12500 (Bovada) for a major.