With Tiger Woods out of contention, NBC's weekend ratings for the U.S. Open dropped dramatically. Sunday's telecast of the fourth round drew an overnight rating of 7.0 and 17 share, down 20% from the
record 8.8 and 21 share last year when Woods won by 15 strokes. On Saturday, NBC's rating for golf's second major was 5.5 with a 14 share, down 15% from last year's 6.5 and 15. The two-day average of
6.2 and 15 share was down 17% from last year's 7.5 and 18 share. Woods' romp to the Open crown a year ago drew the highest rating for the Open since 1981. The victory gave the network a 19% increase
from 1999, when Payne Stewart won by one stroke.
- Adam Bernard
