- Rory McIlroy ended an 11-year wait for a major championship on Sunday night
- The Northern Irishman edged out Justin Rose in a nail-biting play-off at Augusta
- The drama was the headline act on an action-packed day of top-level sport
Rory McIlroy made history on Sunday night by becoming just the sixth man to complete golf’s career Grand Slam of all four majors.
The Northern Irishman ended an 11-year wait to win a major championship at Augusta after edging out Justin Rose in a nail-biting sudden-death play-off. McIlroy saw his two-shot lead evaporate after the first hole but was able to wrestle back control before a late charge from Rose forced the decider.
And it seems the scale and drama of the 35-year-old’s achievement was not lost on the British public as Masters Sunday became the most-watched day in Sky Sports history.
McIlroy’s Augusta triumph, the culmination of a blockbuster day of sport hosted on Sky, drew in a record peak audience of 1.85 million viewers — commanding 37 per cent of total TV viewership.
Other big audience draws included Premier League action as Newcastle United crushed Manchester United 4-1, and Liverpool defeated West Ham 2-1 thanks to a late winner from Virgil Van Dijk; the EFL Trophy Final at Wembley that saw Peterborough beat Birmingham City; and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri winning the Bahrain Grand Prix.
That schedule saw Sky Sports reach 7.5 million viewers across its channels with a record average audience of 1.3 million tuning in between 6am and 2am. That marked a record 19% share of total TV viewing, and a 39% share among under-35s — both higher than any terrestrial broadcaster.
Rory McIlroy sinks to his knees on the 18th green after his Masters dream finally comes true
The Northern Irishman gets his hands on the famous green jacket after his playoff victory
There was also drama at Anfield where Virgil van Dijk scored a late winner against West Ham
Sky Sports Managing Director, Jonathan Licht, said: ‘Sunday was a day of unforgettable sporting drama, and a proud day for Sky Sports, as the live action had fans gripped from the morning into the early hours.
‘From Rory’s historic win at Augusta to an exciting Bahrain Grand Prix and a packed schedule of football, cricket and tennis — it was a day that had it all.
‘These record-breaking numbers are a testament to the incredible teams who work tirelessly behind-the-scenes to bring unmissable moments to life and showcase the very best in sport across the world.’
