GOLF: McIlroy victory at Augusta boosts CBS Sports ratings

Rory McIlroy's Masters victory propelled CBS Sports to a viewership surge, with nearly 14 million tuning in for the final round, marking an 8% increase from 2025. The broadcast peaked at over 20 million viewers, the highest since 2013.

REUTERS

April 15, 2026

FILE PHOTO: Golf - The Masters - Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia, U.S. - April 12, 2026 Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy celebrates with his green jacket and the trophy after winning The Masters

Brian Snyder/File Photo/Reuters

Rory McIlroy's triumphant win at the Masters has given CBS Sports a significant boost, with the network reporting that the final round on Sunday drew nearly 14 million viewers, marking an 8% increase compared to 2025, when McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam.

In a statement released Tuesday, CBS revealed that viewership peaked at more than 20 million, making it the largest audience for Augusta National since 2013, when Adam Scott made history as the first Australian to win the Masters, securing his first major championship with a playoff victory over Angel Cabrera.

McIlroy, who had squandered a six-shot lead through the first 36 holes, showed incredible poise down the stretch to finish 12-under, narrowly defeating Scottie Scheffler by one shot. This victory marked McIlroy’s sixth major championship and solidified his place as the fourth player in Masters history to win back-to-back Green Jackets.

-Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City; Editing by Ken Ferris/Reuters