The 2026 U.S. Open golf championship recently concluded, with its final round on Sunday drawing a significant viewership of 5.5 million on NBC. This figure represents a modest increase of 2% compared to the previous year's event. However, despite this growth and a peak audience of 9.3 million during the decisive moments, the tournament found itself trailing behind other major golf championships in terms of overall popularity, particularly the PGA Championship and the Masters.
Wyndham Clark secured his second U.S. Open title in four years, competing before a lively crowd at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. This year's viewership numbers indicate a positive trend for the U.S. Open, particularly for events held on the East Coast. It stands as the second most-watched East Coast-based U.S. Open since 2013, only surpassed by the 2024 championship, which saw 5.9 million viewers as Bryson DeChambeau triumphed over Rory McIlroy at Pinehurst No. 2.
Historically, U.S. Open tournaments held on the West Coast tend to attract larger audiences. For instance, the 2023 championship at the Los Angeles Country Club garnered an average of 6.2 million viewers for its final round. This regional disparity in viewership highlights a consistent pattern within golf broadcasts. The third-round coverage of the Shinnecock event on Saturday also saw an increase, drawing 3.7 million viewers, a 3% rise from the previous year.
Furthermore, digital platforms played an increasingly important role, with all NBC coverage simultaneously streamed on Peacock. This made it the most-streamed golf event in NBC Sports' history, showing a 13% increase in total consumption compared to the 2025 U.S. Open. This indicates a growing shift towards online viewing for major sporting events.
Despite these encouraging statistics, the U.S. Open's final round viewership did not surpass that of the PGA Championship, a first since 2021, and it ranked third among the three major U.S.-based golf tournaments this year. The Masters led with a remarkable 13.99 million viewers on CBS, followed by the PGA Championship with 5.76 million, also on CBS. The PGA Championship's strong performance was partly due to an exciting conclusion where Aaron Rai unexpectedly claimed his first major title. The Masters also enjoyed its largest final-round audience in 11 years, witnessing Rory McIlroy secure his second consecutive Green Jacket. The Open Championship, held in the U.K., typically draws the lowest U.S. audience among the four majors, with this year's event scheduled at Royal Birkdale. In other golf news, NBC's broadcast of the Players Championship in March averaged 4.4 million viewers for its final round, marking a 15% increase from the previous year, further underscoring the dynamic landscape of golf viewership.