Rory McIlroy’s electrifying triumph in the 2025 Masters, clinching a one-hole playoff victory over Justin Rose, captivated sports fans worldwide with its thrilling showdown.
CBS revealed on Monday that the final round on Sunday — where McIlroy battled fiercely with Rose, Bryson DeChambeau, and Ludvig Åberg, exchanging the lead multiple times — garnered the highest television rating for a golf event since 2018.
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The telecast on Sunday attracted an average of 12.707 million viewers, as reported by CBS. This marked a 33% increase from the previous year when Scottie Scheffler secured a dominant win over Åberg, lacking the intense drama witnessed during McIlroy’s victory. The viewership peaked between 7 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. ET as the tournament headed into a playoff round.
This seven-year period includes the 2019 Masters, where Tiger Woods made a remarkable comeback from a back injury that jeopardized his career. Nevertheless, the final round was rescheduled earlier in the day due to severe weather warnings. Consequently, the telecast averaged 10.8 million viewers, with a peak of 18.3 million from 2 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. ET.
The 2018 Masters showcased Patrick Reed’s victory over Rickie Fowler by a single stroke, fending off challenges from Jordan Spieth while McIlroy faltered in the final round. The viewership for that year’s telecast averaged 13.027 viewers.
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The surge in viewership effectively dispels any concerns regarding declining golf ratings, even with the departure of several high-profile golfers from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf. Notably, LIV players like DeChambeau and Jon Rahm participated in the Masters.
Furthermore, the final round on Sunday attracted the largest streaming audience for a non-NFL broadcast, setting a new record for a golf event on Paramount+.