13.5!

Richard Sandomir on the enormous 8:30-9 pm overnight rating the U.S. Open drew (I can already smell the "USGA west coast bias" articles, circa 2017...) and talks to an NBC spokesman about Johnny's unfortunately "guy who cleans Tiger's swimming pool" remark.

NBC’s decision to show the United States Open broadcasts in prime time last weekend must have come with the underlying desire that Tiger Woods be in the running. His knee surgery in April surely gave NBC executives agita, but his ability to play, then beat Rocco Mediate in sudden death on Monday, was redeemed by terrific viewership on Sunday night, peaking with a huge 13.5 preliminary rating with Woods’s tying birdie at 18.

And...

It is possible that NBC’s overnight rating would have been higher than the 8.5 it earned from 3 to 9 p.m. on Sunday — the third-highest for a fourth round in the Open — if Woods and Phil Mickelson had ended the final round in a tie.

I also understand that the Golf Digest Break 100 Deal (see the love there, capitalizing the d in deal?) pulled in a 2.4 overnight, which tops about half the PGA Tour schedule and most LPGA majors.

SI's Michael Bamberger was granted access inside NBC's truck and explains how NBC produces such fantastic images.