Since we know that for golf telecasts, Tiger Woods = big TV Ratings, NBC has got to be bummed right now. As Tiger starts his second round, he’s below the cut line. Whether he misses the cut or not, he’s likely going to be so far out of the lead that he’ll be difficult to feature in the NBC telecasts. Add to that the rain delays, the prospect for more rain, and the potential for a Monday finish and this might turn out to be one of the lowest rated US Open’s in years.
This is proof that everything has to line up just right in the viewership. Let’s be honest, in today’s world if we have to miss a show or broadcast event we can with a certain degree of confidence know that we can find it online somewhere.
~Lanie~
Yahoo’s cut line is wrong (but it’s automated, and the US Open has a wacky cut line). Here’s the brief description:
[...]with US Open championship rules providing for a 36-hole cut of the 156-man field to the low 60 scorers and ties and any player within 10 strokes of the leader, that could mean a long backlog of rounds to be played.
http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Golf-US-Open-chief-hoping.5385878.jp
to Lanie’s point, indeed the US Open’s online site is defaulting live video to the Woods, Cabrera and Harrington group,
Sunday play delayed, so definetely a monday/tuesday finish. Probably the lowest rated USOpen in a long time
It looks like Mother Nature isn’t a fan of NBC either. I almost feel sorry for them…almost.
They shouldve kept it in san diego….no rain there.
This is boring! Give us the saturday ratings!
I’m pretty sure they can’t play on tuesday, robert(no surname). If they don’t finish 72 holes by monday I’m not sure how a winner is decided but its not by playing more golf on tuesday.
Woods is 9 strokes back at the end of round 3; but even if he makes a surge, if they finish monday it won’t matter for ratings.
As bad as Tiger being out of contention was/is, I think Mother Nature is going to be the bigger hit on the ratings.
US OPEN will soon be rename US CLOSED.
Golf has got to be the most boring “sport” on TV. Playing it is one thing, but watching other people walk around 90% of the time doing nothing is like watching grass grow. Now if Tiger Woods would wig out and smack some other guy over the head with his 9 iron after getting into a sword fighting like battle using golf clubs, then it would be interesting.
I’m not going to lie. I’m transfixed to my television right now. NBC might have lost out, but ESPN is the winner today with some engaging programming.
Tiger is in the hunt and the leaderboard is fading back to par. This is what makes US Open golf so exciting.
p.s. When is Tiger really ever out of contention? When will people learn.
Who watches golf, anyway
Bacchus, Indeed, ESPN got the good “Tiger” draw today. NBC is picking up coverage after Tiger has completed 17 holes today!
How about David Duval? This is a great story and the fact that media darling Mickelson is on the first page of the leaderboard means NBC might get some redemption.
I can’t wait to see the numbers, although as an enthusiast – I don’t need metrics to tell me how exciting this is!
Bacchus, no question Duval is a story, and I’m enjoying it too, but it’s not going to help the ratings. Had this all happened on Sunday afternoon, they’d have done pretty well, but Monday at noon? They’re hosed.