CBS breaks Mickelson record as Aaron Rai wins | Golf News

CBS Sports delivered the most-watched closing spherical of the PGA Championship in 5 years, with coverage drawing more than 8 million viewers.

Back in 2021, Phil Mickelson claimed the title at the PGA Championship just days before his fiftieth birthday, turning into the oldest participant ever to win a major. This yr, CBS broadcast the most-watched match since that memorable version.

This yr’s PGA Championship averaged 5.764 million viewers, a 21 % increase from the earlier yr.

“It was amazing. From the very start of the week, from the Monday, which was the practice round for us, it felt like a tournament round,” said Rai following his win. “The fans were incredible from the very start of the week, and that just continued as the tournament went on.

“It positively received fairly loud on the market today, and one thing that I discussed earlier as effectively, I’m very a lot a international participant enjoying right here in America, but their help for me was unbelievable. So, yeah, the followers have been completely sensible this week.”

Viewership peaked at an average of 7.826 million over a one-hour window as Rai drained a outstanding 68-foot birdie putt on the seventeenth gap, finishing his spherical to secure his first-ever major triumph at Aronimink Golf Club. Through the current season, CBS is averaging 4.150 million viewers for its PGA Tour broadcasts — its highest determine since 2015 — representing a 14 % bounce from the prior yr.

The community also drew an average of 5,764,000 viewers throughout the whole closing spherical, marking a 21 % surge in contrast to Scottie Scheffler’s victory the earlier yr at Quail Hollow.

CBS wasn’t the only platform to reap the rewards, as ESPN’s live coverage of all 4 rounds at Aronimink Golf Club made it the most-watched PGA Championship on the community in six years, pulling in 1.7 million whole viewers — a outstanding 49% increase from 2025.

Last yr’s match finale noticed Scottie Scheffler declare a five-stroke victory, yet CBS averaged just 4.76 million viewers, a drop of 4 %.