TV ratings soar as Ryan Fox's dramatic Open victory delivers biggest audience since St Andrews

Ryan Fox's dramatic maiden major victory at The Open helped NBC deliver its most-watched final round of golf's oldest major since Cameron Smith lifted the Claret Jug at St Andrews in 2022.

Final-round coverage across NBC and Peacock averaged 4.3 million viewers, a 6% increase on last year's Open at Royal Portrush, where Scottie Scheffler claimed victory in front of an audience of 4.1 million.

Viewership peaked at 6.1 million between 1:15 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. ET as Fox birdied the 72nd hole to overtake Cameron Young, who had seen his own title hopes unravel with a costly bogey on the final hole almost two hours earlier.

The figures made it the most-watched final round of The Open since Smith's memorable one-shot victory over Cameron Young at the Old Course in 2022. 

Coincidentally, Young also finished runner-up by a single stroke that year too. 

Smith's first major title at the Home of Golf in 2022 came shortly before he accepted a huge multi-year deal to join LIV Golf and become Ripper GC captain.

Fox entered record books

On Sunday in sunny Southport, Fox, 39, won The Open with a nerveless birdie at the final hole to finish 10-under par, capping a remarkable weekend that included a stunning third-round 62 and a closing 68. 

He became just the fourth New Zealander to win a major title joining Bob Charles, Michael Campbell and Lydia Ko. 

Fox's electrifying 62 in the third round also made him just the seventh player in history to shoot that score in a men's major championship.

Fan interest in The 154th Open had been bubbly up nicely heading into the weekend, and it showed in NBC's TV ratings. 

Saturday's third-round coverage averaged 3.7 million viewers, up 16% on last year and the largest third-round audience for The Open since 2018.

Bryson vs Rory drama

The week's compelling storyline was also boosted by Bryson DeChambeau's controversial two-shot penalty following his second round. 

Rory McIlroy then criticised the LIV Golf star, accusing him of being "performative" and holding The Open "hostage" after DeChambeau suggested he could withdraw before the third round.

The World No.2 also said he was not particularly fond of DeChambeau, which further turned the screw. 

You then also had home-favourite Tommy Fleetwood going in search of his maiden major title, only to come up short in tied fourth alongside defending champion and World No.1 Scottie Scheffler. 

TV cameras nearly missed Fox's winning putt

Fox's Open triumph also produced one of the more memorable broadcasting moments of the week. 

The New Zealander's famously brisk pace of play almost caught television cameras out as they scrambled to capture his winning birdie putt on the 18th green.

"I was always that way as a kid. I see things fast," Fox told reporters after etching his name on the Claret Jug. 

"I was the same when I was playing cricket growing up. I played almost every sport growing up, and tennis I wanted to hit the ball hard, and cricket I wanted to hit the ball hard. Everything just happened fast. I was never methodical at anything, to be honest, and it just carried over into golf."

Fox's fast finish, a tightly packed leaderboard and a drama-filled week combined to deliver one of the most compelling and most-watched Opens in recent years.

Roll on The 155th Open at St Andrews next July, and who knows maybe Tiger's final stroll over the famous Swilcan Bridge.