There’s no sporting event quite like the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, and this year’s edition certainly lived up to the hype.
For the first time in his illustrious career, Rory McIlroy claimed the green jacket and captured his first Masters title, completing the career Grand Slam. This feat puts him in rare company, alongside just five other golfers, and makes him the first to achieve it since Tiger Woods.
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McIlroy entered Sunday with a two-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau, and many expected the final round to come down to a showdown between the two stars. However, it ended up being a sudden-death playoff between McIlroy and Justin Rose, which McIlroy won dramatically with a birdie putt. His raw emotion and tears of joy and relief created an unforgettable moment for viewers.
In the wake of McIlroy’s victory, CBS Sports made a historic announcement on Monday afternoon. The network revealed that this year’s Masters final round was the most-watched since 2018, averaging 12.7 million viewers on Sunday. Coverage peaked at 19.5 million viewers between 7 and 7:15 p.m. ET.
“CBS Sports on Sunday delivered the most-watched final round of the Masters since 2018, as Rory McIlroy won in a playoff to capture his first green jacket along with golf’s career grand slam.” CBS Sports PR posted.