The Masters at Augusta National never fails to provide ample entertainment, and this year it drew more viewers worldwide than any previous event.

According to a recent announcement from CBS Sports, the final round of the 2026 Masters set an 11-year viewership record at Augusta National. The final round of the Masters was aired on Sunday between 2:00 and 7:17 pm ET and registered an average of 13.995 million viewers, recording an 8% increase from last year's record.

Viewing numbers reached the highest point with 20.049 million viewers, hitting the peak viewership since 2013 for the tournament.

Streaming service Paramount+ also announced a new milestone, as the Masters coverage was declared to be "the biggest golf day ever" on the platform.

The numbers are yet another proof of the Masters being one of the most loved golfing events. Many consider it the pinnacle of the sport, and these viewership numbers also say the same. These numbers are the highest since Jordan Spieth won the tournament in 2015.

This time, it was Rory McIlroy lifting the coveted trophy, for the second time in a row.

Rory McIlroy’s Successful Title Defense

McIlroy claimed his second straight Green Jacket with a score of 71 on the final day of the tournament and finished 12-under par, becoming only the fourth golfer to defend his championship successfully. No wonder so many fans tuned in to watch the tournament.

Rory McIlroy, who won all four major championships to achieve a Career Grand Slam on the greens of Augusta in 2025, entered the last round as the slight favorite and handled his pressure quite well.

McIlroy's consistent play, which included an important birdie on the 12th and 13th holes, helped him finish one stroke clear of the top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler. His win at the Golden Bell sure was a delight to watch, as many golfers have fallen at this difficult stretch.

With his outstanding effort that helped counter Scheffler's score of 11-under par, McIlroy cemented his place among legends and became the main star of golf's most-watched game in over ten years.

The viewership is proof of McIlroy's successes. The golfer was also the reason behind CBS pulling an average audience of 3.3 million in the final round of the Pebble Beach in 2025. It was the highest number since 2021.

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Written by

Abhishek Sharma

Edited by

Afreen Kabir