Rory McIlroy’s Masters win is most-watched since 2018

Rory McIlroy poses with the Masters trophy during the Green Jacket Ceremony after winning the tournament on April 13. PHOTO: AFP

UPDATED Apr 15, 2025, 09:55 AM

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AUGUSTA – Rory McIlroy’s nail-biting victory at the Masters golf tournament attracted an average of 12.7 million viewers on April 13, according to CBS, which broadcast the tournament’s final two rounds. 

The audience grew by 33 per cent from last year, when Scottie Scheffler cruised to a four-stroke win and earned his second green jacket in three years, CBS said on X. It was the most-watched Masters since 2018, according to the network, the broadcast division of Paramount Global.

McIlroy’s road to his first Masters title was dramatic and likely gave a much-needed boost to the tournament’s ratings. The first round, which aired on ESPN on April 10, had an average of 2.3 million viewers, down 28 per cent from a year ago, while the second round, which ESPN showed on April 11, drew an average of 3.1 million viewers, a 14 per cent decline.

Over the course of the weekend, McIlroy squandered multiple leads, bringing back memories of his fumble in the 2011 Masters, when he led for three straight days but finished in 15th place.