GOLF: Rory McIlroy's Masters repeat scores CBS' best ratings in 11 years

Rory McIlroy’s second straight Masters victory helped drive CBS to its highest final-round viewership since 2015, averaging nearly 14 million viewers and peaking above 20 million. The 2026 tournament saw major ratings growth year over year amid a dramatic finish at Augusta National.

FIELD LEVEL MEDIA / Reuters

April 16, 2026

Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia, U.S.

Brian Snyder / Reuters

Rory McIlroy’s sixth career major title — and second consecutive win at the Masters — delivered a significant television ratings boost for CBS during Sunday’s final round at Augusta National.

The fourth round averaged nearly 14 million viewers, with 13,995,000 tuning in, marking the highest audience for CBS on the final day since 2015, when Jordan Spieth won his first major. The figure was reported by Front Office Sports.

Sunday’s broadcast also represented an 8% increase from April 2025, when McIlroy completed a career Grand Slam in a dramatic playoff victory over Justin Rose. That emotional finish last year helped set the stage for renewed interest in his 2026 title defense.

The 2026 tournament featured sustained drama throughout the weekend. Rory McIlroy opened by sharing the first-round lead, then built a record six-shot advantage after 36 holes. However, the lead disappeared heading into the final round, with McIlroy and Cameron Young tied at the top after 54 holes.

Viewership reflected the competitive tension. The third round averaged 8.1 million viewers on CBS, up 14% from 7.6 million in 2025 and the strongest third-round audience since Tiger Woods competed during his 2019 Masters victory.

On Sunday, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler mounted a strong charge from four strokes back, ultimately finishing just one shot behind McIlroy. With the win, McIlroy joined golf legends Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Woods as one of the few players to win consecutive Masters titles.

The broadcast peaked at just over 20 million viewers, the highest Masters peak since 2013, when Adam Scott claimed the green jacket and Woods finished tied for fourth. The 2025 peak stood at 19.54 million.

The 2026 Masters also marked the first tournament measured under Nielsen’s Big Data+ Panel methodology, a revised system designed to better capture modern viewing habits. According to Front Office Sports, the updated approach generally produces higher totals for live sports broadcasts compared with previous measurement standards.

— Field Level Media / Reuters