U.S. Open Ratings Up...For An East Coast Venue

NBC registered a 6.1 for the U.S. Open final round at Merion, down from last year's 6.6 at Olympic that was going to head-to-head with the NBA Finals.

For Immediate Release:

Golf Channel on NBC's Final Round coverage of the U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club scored a best overnight (6.1) for an East Coast U.S. Open since 2007 at Oakmont Country Club (7.0).

Coverage peaked in the metered-market overnights at a 9.4 US Household Overnight Rating from 7-7:30 PM EST.

Golf Channel on NBC's Final Round coverage was up 20% from Rory McIlroy's win in 2011 at Congressional Country Club (5.1), which was the last East Coast U.S. Open.

ESPN scored its second-highest Thursday U.S. Open viewership.

For Immediate Release:

ESPN’s live telecast of Thursday evening’s play in the U.S. Open championship from Merion Golf Club near Philadelphia on June 13 was the second most-viewed Thursday telecast of the event ever on the network and the highest-rated since 2002.
 
Additionally, ESPN’s live telecast of Friday evening’s play was the highest-rated east coast venue Friday prime telecast since 2002.
 
Thursday’s evening telecast, which aired from 5-6:10 p.m. and 6:55-8:26 p.m. ET due to a rain delay, earned a 1.9 household coverage rating, averaging 2,209,725 viewers. The rating was the highest since ESPN earned a 2.3 for the Thursday evening telecast in 2002 and the viewership average is exceeded only by the 2,499,860 that watched in 2002.
 
Friday evening’s telecast, which aired from 5-8:42 p.m., earned a 2.0 household coverage rating, averaging 2,458,378 viewers, the highest rating for an east coast U.S. Open venue since ESPN had a 2.1 rating in 2002.
 
ESPN’s live telecast of the rain-delayed afternoon round on Thursday, which aired from noon – 3 p.m., earned a 1.2 household coverage rating, averaging 1,340,169 viewers, while the morning-afternoon session on Friday, which aired from 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., earned a 1.5 household coverage rating with an average of 1,672,526 viewers.
 
Throughout the U.S. Open (June 13-16), golf coverage across ESPN digital platforms – including ESPN.com, ESPN mobile Web, ScoreCenter, WatchESPN and ESPN3 – logged an average minute audience of more than 108,000. Additionally, on Thursday and Friday, live coverage of the U.S. Open on WatchESPN and ESPN3 logged 38.6 million minutes, up 64 percent.

Merion Is To America What St. Andrews Is To Scotland

At least, in the tournament sense though the architectural DNA of so many courses was inspired by Merion.

But since we are fresh from a fantastic U.S. Open, let's stick to Merion's place as the host of 18 USGA championships. I make the case in this Golf World Monday item that this is our St. Andrews and while the setup definitely had its quirks and mistakes, Merion is so good that it overshadowed any quirks. (I elaborate in detail in Golf World this week on some of the setup highs and lows.)

Until that story appears, forgive me if I wax a bit about this special place in golf. My great regret of the week will probably be that I didn't take time to just walk roads surrounding the course, where spectators leaned on fences and cheered players on. And where neighborhoods turned into block parties of folks simply celebrating the return of golf to this special place. Reader Ari, who I met this week after years of online communication, was a witness to this and posted in previous threads about the atmosphere.

Like the camaraderie that envelopes St. Andrews during the Open, otherwise sleepy streets turned into a community that we can only hope becomes a regular occurrence every 8-10 years.

Jungle Bird Was Offered A Refund If He Was Coming To Merion

Jungle Bird of 2012 U.S. Open fame was offered a full refund in case he was thinking of crashing the 2013 U.S. Open trophy ceremony. Or the tournament in any way.

Deadspin's Samer Kalef with the story and the USGA's offer via letter.

2013 U.S. Open: Your Kneejerk Reactions

Congratuations to Justin Rose for being the last man standing at magnificent Merion!

I have to hunker down for a few hours and write a course story for Golf World. As you can imagine there is much to ponder from this week but I'd love to hear impressions from the final day and telecast.

Video: Phil To Mike Davis On 274-Yard 3rd: "Terrible"

Thanks to GolfChannel.com's Jay Coffin for Tweeting this video where NBC's crack audio team picking up a frank conversation between Phil Mickelson and USGA Executive Director Mike Davis after the 3rd hole, which played 274 yards into the wind.

The transcript:

"274?  That's terrible. Can't even reach it."

The hole was playing straight into the wind as forecasted.

Update on 2013-06-17 14:19 by Geoff

**Mike Davis's response after the round:

Q.  Phil expressed his displeasure about the third hole setup.  How do you feel with the way the wind was coming and did you feel like you got that one right?

MIKE DAVIS:  Well, let me start out by Phil is a class act.  He was nothing but complimentary week from the standpoint of he embraced this golf course, which is great.  He saw all the architecture when he played the third hole today.

We set the golf course up today for a south wind.  So you saw us move tee markers up.  For instance, if you're playing the 18th hole, you're dead into what would be a south wind.  So that's how we set it up.  That's why we didn't go to the back tees.

When we got to the third hole, we were really getting a westerly even a northwesterly wind.  So it played long.  It played longer than we would have ‑‑ but having said that, it was a back hole location that was the most receptive on the green, we felt that it could handle 3‑wood shots, if need be.  So anyway, I mean, he mentioned that he thought it was too long.  That's fine.  We wouldn't have put the tee markers back where we did had we known we were going to get that wind.

But he was terrific and to be a six‑time runner‑up in the National Open Championship is ‑‑ well, it's not only a record, but it's a ‑‑ he's a very classy about it.

Video: Stefani's Amazing Merion Ace!

This is just tremendous, both the shot by Shawn Stefani and the reaction in the final round at Merion:

After the round he talked about the shot:

Q.  Obviously the shot you hit, are you expecting that shot where it was going to where it would go in the hole?

SHAWN STEFANI:  Not at all.  I was just ‑‑ I was actually trying to hit the left side of the green and cut it.  And then I kind of pulled it.  I pulled it about five yards.  And the wind was kind of down off the left and it really didn't help at all.  It didn't move it to the right.

And honestly I think I've seen a bunch of balls that week kind of not kick to the right and I was really surprised to see the ball kick to the right.  And then once it did kick, it kept rolling and I was like, well this could be good.  And the fans stood up and then it kept getting closer and closer and then when it went in, I was just super excited because it's the first hole‑in‑one I've ever had in a tournament.

Q.  You've had others, but not in a tournament?

SHAWN STEFANI:  Just one other.

Q.  Which is?

SHAWN STEFANI:  I was 13 years old.  Goose Creek Country Club where I grew up playing golf on No. 16.

2013 U.S. Open Final Round Open Comment Thread

The big finale is here--well we think--and an exciting group of combatants is aligned to push third round leader Phil Mickelson.

If the weather holds and a few of the more accessible hole locations prove accessible, it should be a grand finish to a special week.

Your leaderboard and starting times.

Course setup notes and hole locations to follow after the USGA feels television partners Golf Channel/ESPN has gotten enough of an exclusive head start sharing this apparently sacred information.

Update on 2013-06-16 23:37 by Geoff

**Better late than never. In light of Shawn Stefani's ace, note the 17th hole commentary:

COURSE SETUP: ROUND 4 OF THE 2013 U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

The following are details on the course setup for Round 4 of the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club, from Mike Davis, USGA Executive Director.

Green Speeds – The final round’s green speeds are in the 13- to 13½-foot range on the USGA Stimpmeter.   
.   
Fairway and Rough Grass – All fairways were mowed this morning. The rough’s first cut (18 feet in width of drive zones; 9 feet in width around greens) was mowed immediately after play last (Saturday) night.  

Total Course Yardage for Sunday (tee marker settings to flagstick) = 3,646 yards out; 3,207 yards in = 6,853 total yards

Hole-by-Hole Information:

Hole 1 – 360 yards; the hole location is in the back-left portion of the green. 
 
Hole 2 – 525 yards; tee markers have been moved forward to the penultimate teeing ground, which will give players a better opportunity to reach the green in two shots; the hole location is in the front-left portion of the green.  
 
Hole 3 – 266 yards; tee markers are placed on the back tee; the hole location is two-thirds of the way back on the right; properly played tee shots should “feed” into this area.
 
Hole 4 – 571 yards; tee markers have been placed forward on the penultimate teeing ground; the hole location is in the front-center portion of the green.  
 
Hole 5 – 495 yards; the hole location is in the front-center portion of the green.
 
Hole 6 – 490 yards; the hole location is in the back-right portion of the green.
 
Hole 7 – 340 yards; the hole location is on the front (first) left plateau.
 
Hole 8 – 353 yards; the hole location is in the back-right portion of the green.
 
Hole 9 – 246 yards; the hole location is in the back-left quadrant of this kidney-shaped green.
 
Hole 10 – 290 yards; tee markers are placed on the penultimate teeing ground, giving an opportunity to drive the green; the hole location is in the left portion of the green.
 
Hole 11 – 356 yards; the hole location is in the front-right portion, hugging the edge of the water hazard.
 
Hole 12 – 419 yards; the hole location is in the far back-right portion of the green.
 
Hole 13 – 121 yards; tee markers are placed on the back-right side of the lower teeing ground; the hole location is in the center, to the far right of the green. 
 
Hole 14 – 452 yards; tee markers have been placed on the back teeing ground; the hole location is in the front-center of the green; putts played from beyond the hole are very fast.
 
Hole 15 – 422 yards; tee markers have again been moved slightly forward, giving a few more options off the tee; the hole location is back right, tucked behind the bunker that fronts the right side of the putting green.  
 
Hole 16 – 423 yards; the hole location is in the front-left portion of the green, just above the front right “bowl.”
 
Hole 17 – 229 yards; the tee markers have been moved forward to the penultimate teeing ground; the hole location is in the back-right portion of the green in an area where balls will “feed” if the proper shot is played; birdies are a much better possibility in the final round.
 
Hole 18 – 511 yards; given the southerly headwind prediction, the tee markers are moved forward to the penultimate teeing ground; the hole is in the back left “bowl” in the traditional final-day championship location; balls should “feed” to this area.  

Instant Poll: Who Will Win The 2013 U.S. Open

For reasons both obvious (he's striking the ball so well) and sentimental (it's time), I voted for Phil. You?

Who do you think will win the 2013 US Open?
	Phil Mickelson
	Hunter Mahan
	Charl Schwartzel
	Steve Stricker
	Justin Rose
	Luke Donald
	Billy Horschel
	Someone else
pollcode.com free polls

Video: Rogue Ball Attacks Carl Pettersson's Ball!

From an unbylined Sky report on day two of the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion.

When asked about the freak incident on the fifth, Pettersson admitted he "had no clue" as to who hit the rogue shot, which was likely to have come from the adjoining second hole.

"I was getting ready to go and pulled the club back and a ball bounced and hit my ball, so I managed to stop," he said. "I've never seen that or experienced that before.

The video:

"If somebody is going to wreck your grass, who else would you want fixing it than the USGA?"

It's day five for me at Merion and I'm still wrapping my head around entering the property through someone's backyard, and that's one of the least bizarre things about this U.S. Open.

Rick Reilly with a vintage column on the surreal scene players have mentioned at the registration and locker room site down at the West Course.

"I'm sitting there eating breakfast this morning with some guy's kid," says Mike Weir. "He was sitting on the couch, eating, oblivious to us even being there. Their dogs are running around. The guy's wife is coming in and out. We're watching "SportsCenter" and the kid changes over to the Golf Channel. I start to say, 'Hey wait a minute, kid … ' and then I realized, oh, yeah, this is his house.

The Gravinas' backyard? It houses the giant tent that is serving as the Player Locker Room. Why can't they just use Merion's actual locker room? Because it's the size of a U-Store-It (Reason No. 117).

2013 U.S. Open Second Round Comment Thread

We're starting the day much cooler and guess what, rainy! I'm heading out to watch some golf, so enjoy the coverage.

(Click to enlarge)ESPN is on from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.

NBC covers the 3-5 p.m. slot.

The scoring is here.

Tee times here, which are all pushed back three hours.

Update on 2013-06-14 18:03 by Geoff

**The USGA course setup notes:

COURSE SETUP: ROUND 2 OF THE 2013 U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

The following are details on the course setup for Round 2 of the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club, from Mike Davis, USGA Executive Director.

Weather Forecast for Friday (provided by Jake Swick of Thor Guard Weather) – About a tenth of an inch of rain fell overnight and with the on-again, off-again showers and sprinkles this morning, we could see up to another tenth of an inch of rain at the most. The other main story to start this morning is the cool northerly winds gusting over 20 mph at times that will keep temperatures below normal today. Winds will decrease throughout the day and as the sun comes out more this afternoon, we will have to watch out for a shower or even a storm, especially around 5 p.m. The clouds should clear out quickly this evening and we are still looking at nearly perfect weather on Saturday under lots of sunshine. Then the next storm system quickly races into Pa. on Sunday bringing back the chance of a shower or storm.

Winds in the morning could reach 10–20 mph out of the north, then will soften as the day goes on.

Green Speeds – Today’s green speeds are roughly one-half foot slower than yesterday due to overnight rain (1/10th inch) and our caution with predicted winds of upwards of 30 mph.  The speeds will range 12½ to 13 feet on the USGA Stimpmeter during the day.   

Fairway and Rough Grass – Most fairways were cut this morning, but only four were rolled due to standing casual water. Roughs were not cut during yesterday’s p.m. maintenance due to rain.  
Total Course Yardage for Thursday (tee marker settings to flagstick) = 3,689 yards out; 3,212 yards in = 6,901 total yards

Hole-by-Hole Information:

Hole 1 – 356 yards; the hole location is three-quarters of the way back hugging the right side. 
Hole 2 – 557 yards; the hole location is in the center left portion of the green.  
Hole 3 – 203 yards; tee markers are on the forward teeing ground with the hole location placed 7 paces past the front edge of the green; tee shots should be played downwind.  
Hole 4 – 628 yards; the hole location is on the front left “ledge” of the green.
Hole 5 – 504 yards; the hole location is in the center of the green; the hole should have a helping wind out of the right.
Hole 6 – 491 yards; the hole location is in the center of the green; this hole will also have a helping wind out of the right.
Hole 7 – 368 yards; the hole location is placed in the center left portion of the green just short of the back left “bowl.”
Hole 8 – 363 yards; the hole location is in the back left portion of the green; most putts on the green will be uphill to the hole.
Hole 9 – 219 yards; the hole location is in the front portion (6 paces on) of this kidney-shaped green; shots played from past the hole will be fast coming back down the hill.
Hole 10 – 313 yards; tee markers are on the back teeing ground; the hole location is in the back left portion of the green.
Hole 11 – 363 yards; the hole location is in the center right portion of the green.
Hole 12 – 405 yards; the hole location is in the center left portion, just left of the “spine” that runs front to back through the green.
Hole 13 – 123 yards; tee markers are placed on the left side (upper) of the teeing ground; the hole location is center back of this “bowl” green; tee shots played with less spin will be advantageous.
Hole 14 – 453 yards; tee markers were kept on the forward teeing ground for round 2 because of the headwind on tee shots; the hole location is placed back left, bringing the closely mown mound left of the green into play.
Hole 15 – 414 yards; the hole location is tucked behind the bunker that fronts the right portion of the green.
Hole 16 – 434 yards; the hole location is placed five or so paces above the front right bowl.
Hole 17 – 206 yards; the tee markers are placed on the forward teeing ground; the hole location is in the front right portion of the green just above the false front; the tee shots are into the north wind.
Hole 18 – 501 yards; the tee markers are again placed on the penultimate teeing ground even with the northerly downwind tee shot; the hole location is on the front left portion of the green; the hole should play downwind.

How Did Merion Hold Up So Well?

Merion was soft and yet scores weren't low.

The theories range from playing long, to greens remaining firm, to hole locations in the back of greens, to local knowledge, to the difficulty of the weather and even the shaggier fairways. Or maybe all of the above?

Rickie Fowler after his opening 70:

There's some nasty rough out there. It is short on the card, and it was playing soft today, which makes it play longer.  I actually think this course plays more like a 7400 or 7500 yard golf course just because of you have the stretch from 7 through 13, besides the fact that No. 9 being a long par‑3.

Other than that, some very short holes. Which if you made those regular length, it's going to add up the scorecard closer to 7400 or 7500 yards.

Jerry Kelly explains the hole location issue:

Q.  There was soft conditions today, a little‑to‑no breeze at times, how surprising is it that 9‑under is leading right now and guys aren't going low?

    JERRY KELLY:  You saw where they put the pins, didn't you?  Every single one of them was in the back.  You can't get to them on soft greens.  So you can hit pitching wedges and irons from 80 yards, but you're not going to do that.  You're just going to knock it up there and if it spins back, it spins back.

    So it was a little deceiving thinking, oh, we had easy pins in the back back there.  No.  Those are very hard when the course is playing a little shorter.

And Ron Sirak sums up the variety of elements that made Merion so tough on day one, including the bizarre flow to the rounds for players before they were delayed for several hours.

And then there are the mechanics required to stage the Open at this golf course. Not only was there the three-and-a-half hour delay on Thursday, but the locker room and practice range are on the West Course, about a mile from the tournament East Course.

Rory's Ryder Cup Cop Lands New Gig

Thanks to reader Barry for this story on Lombard Police Deputy Chief Pat Rollins, he of Ryder Cup rescuer fame, landing the job as Sugar Grove Police chief.

Think he put Rory down as a reference?