As Rory McIlroy reigns, CBS averages 14 million viewers during most-watched final round of Masters since 2015
McIlroy won his second straight green jacket on Sunday, overcoming an up-and-down weekend at Augusta National.
Rory McIlroy blew a six-stroke lead Saturday, then fell two strokes behind early Sunday. But a day that could have fostered a historic Masters letdown instead featured McIlroy’s latest triumph as the Northern Irish icon roared back in front and stayed there to become the fourth golfer to win back-to-back green jackets, joining Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods . It was must-watch TV, and the broadcast reeled in an average of 13.
995 million viewers, making Sunday the most-watched Masters final round in 11 years, CBS Sports announced Tuesday . That number was up 8% from last year, when McIlroy secured his career grand slam in a dramatic playoff against Justin Rose, and it’s the biggest since the network averaged exactly 14 million viewers in 2015 , when a 21-year-old Jordan Spieth led wire-to-wire at Augusta National and won his first major championship. Coverage of the 2026 Masters final round peaked at 20M viewers 🤯 That is the largest peak since 2013 📈 (via @CBSSports ) pic.
twitter. com/hiHXeYQkRt — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 14, 2026 Sunday came with the Masters’ largest coverage peak since 2013. That year, Adam Scott emerged victorious.
CBS reported a 2026 peak of 20. 049 million viewers. Last year, for reference, viewership maxed out at 19.