Sky Sports has reinforced its position as the premier destination for golf fans across the UK and Ireland by securing a major new broadcasting agreement. The broadcaster has signed a multi-year deal with Augusta National Golf Club, ensuring its Sky Sports and NOW platforms remain the exclusive home of The Masters Tournament for British and Irish audiences.
A Banner Year for Sky's Golf Portfolio
This landmark partnership is the latest in a series of significant coups for Sky's golf department. The announcement follows closely on the heels of a new multi-year agreement to broadcast the 2027 and 2029 Ryder Cups. Furthermore, Sky recently confirmed an extension of its partnership with the Ladies European Tour (LET), taking that long-running collaboration into its 30th year.
The value of these exclusive rights was spectacularly demonstrated in April 2025. The final day of The Masters, where Rory McIlroy ended his agonising 11-year wait to win the tournament and complete the Career Grand Slam, became part of Sky's most-watched day ever. A massive 1.85 million viewers tuned in across the broadcaster's channels, with Sky commanding 37 per cent of the total TV viewership during McIlroy's epic triumph at Augusta.
Enhanced Coverage and Innovative Tech for Fans
For fans, the new deal promises a significantly improved viewing experience. Coverage of The 2026 Masters, scheduled for April 6-12, will feature at least 20 per cent more live action than previous tournaments. Sky plans to deliver expanded coverage of featured groups, live feeds from the iconic Amen Corner, and its popular 'Live On The Range' segments.
In addition to the main event, Sky will also broadcast the Masters Par 3 Contest and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (April 1-4). The broadcaster is also pushing technological boundaries, having debuted golf's first Spidercam at The 2025 Open and utilising new 3D Augmented Reality in its 'Live at The Range' coverage.
Leadership and Future Prospects
Sky's Chief Sports Officer, Jonathan Licht, expressed delight at extending the "long-standing partnership" with Augusta National. He highlighted McIlroy's 2025 victory as a "standout moment" and promised to bring fans "even more unmissable drama from Augusta National in the years ahead."
Meanwhile, the new champion, Rory McIlroy, is scheduled to return to competitive action at the Dubai Invitational on January 15, followed by the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
