The 2023 Ryder Cup was the most watched edition of the biennial men’s team golf competition ever on Sky Sports, with 3.7 million viewers tuning into the UK pay-TV network across the three days of competition at Marco Simone in Rome.
The Ryder Cup averaged 785,000 viewers on Sky in the UK, a 38 per cent increase on the 2021 edition and 25 per cent increase on the 2018 edition
The number of viewers under the age of 35 increased by 14 per cent compared to 2021, while Sky Sports’ Ryder Cup content also had over two million video views across the company’s social media channels
The viewership record set by the Ryder Cup on Sky continues the broadcaster’s success from the recent Solheim Cup, which saw a peak audience of 734,000 tune into the women’s team tournament on the final day.
“This past weekend rounds off a superb period where we’ve seen record numbers across both the Ryder and Solheim Cups. It’s a testament to the team we have when it comes to producing unparalleled content and commentary,” said Jason Wessely, Sky Sports director of golf.
“Looking ahead, we know there’s a real opportunity when it comes to engaging with new fans as we see younger generations coming to the sport, as well as the ongoing role we have in growing the women’s game through telling the stories of the world’s best female athletes.”
Conversely, US viewing figures for NBC’s Ryder Cup coverage of the final day’s play in Rome dropped by more than a million compared to 2018 matches in Paris, the last time the tournament was held in Europe, with just 1.315 million viewers tuning in to watch Zach Johnson’s side lose 16.5-11.5.