Golf Star Scottie Scheffler Appears Unbothered by Spectator Absence
Scottie Scheffler's Open Championship Victory Boosts TV Ratings and Earnings
Scottie Scheffler's triumphant win at the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush not only secured him the Claret Jug but also propelled the tournament to its highest-ever TV viewership in the United States. The final round of Scheffler's victory drew approximately 4.1 million average viewers on NBC, marking a 21% increase over the 2024 final round viewership.
The peak viewership on that Sunday afternoon reached an impressive 6.1 million viewers, the highest since The Open was held at St. Andrews in 2022. Despite these impressive figures, Scheffler's Open final round viewership was still below Rory McIlroy's Masters final round, which remains the highest-rated major of the year with 12.71 million average viewers.
Early-round viewership for The Open also rose significantly, averaging over 1 million viewers on NBC platforms—numbers close to the early rounds of the PGA Championship. In the UK, Sky Sports reported a record viewership increase for The Open with Scheffler’s win, hitting 681,000 average viewers on the final day, a 41% rise year-over-year.
This surge in viewership has contributed to Scheffler's status as the highest-earning golfer of the 2022-2023 PGA Tour season, with total earnings of $16.8 million. However, Scheffler's dominance has yet to reach the historic TV audiences achieved during Tiger Woods' peak years.
The prize money for the 153rd Open Championship was $12.5 million, with Scheffler receiving 24.5% of the total. This was the highest in the tournament's history and a 27.4% increase over the previous record. With four major wins under his belt, Scheffler has solidified his place among the greats of golf.
Despite his success, Scheffler has mused on the ephemeral nature of victory and questioned why he wants to win tournaments so badly. In a post-win interview, he was seen celebrating his latest title with his 14-month-old son, a poignant reminder of the enduring impact of these victories.
In summary, Scheffler's win at the 153rd Open Championship has driven a significant jump in TV ratings for the tournament, making it the most-watched Open since 2022 in the U.S., though still behind the Masters peak viewership for 2025. His dominance has contributed to rising interest in golf majors but has yet to reach the historic TV audiences achieved during Tiger Woods' peak years. Viewership trends show growth for The Open over recent years, both in the U.S. and the UK, indicating increasing engagement but still with room compared to other majors.
[1] Golf Digest, "Scottie Scheffler's Open Championship Win Boosts TV Ratings and Earnings," link
[2] Sky Sports, "Record Viewership for The Open with Scheffler’s Win," link
[3] ESPN, "NBC Sports Covers 153rd Open Championship," link
[4] Golf Channel, "Prize Money for 153rd Open Championship," link
[5] Golf.com, "Scottie Scheffler's 2025 Open Championship Final Round Viewership," link
People around the globe tuned in to watch Scottie Scheffler's stunning victory at the 153rd Open Championship, indicating a growing interest in sports like golf. This sports-analysis shows that the final round of Scheffler's win attracted more viewers than any Open Championship since 2022, demonstrating the potential for boosting viewership and earnings in sports-related events.
