In a decisive move that cements its status as the dominant force in European sports broadcasting, Sky Sports has finalized a series of landmark partnership extensions that will keep the network at the heart of the golfing world for the remainder of the decade. Throughout November and December 2025, the broadcaster announced multi-year deals with the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, and the Ryder Cup, ensuring that fans in the UK and Ireland will have exclusive access to the sport’s most prestigious events through at least 2029. Coming off a record-breaking year for viewership—fueled by a historic European Ryder Cup victory at Bethpage Black and stellar performances from home-grown heroes like Rory McIlroy—the new agreements represent a “golden era” of stability and innovation for golf fans.
A Quadruple-Crown of Partnerships
The backbone of Sky Sports’ 2026–2029 strategy is a pair of comprehensive four-year extensions with the world’s leading men’s circuits. The most recent announcement, confirmed on December 22, 2025, secures the exclusive rights to the PGA Tour, covering everything from the FedExCup regular season to the high-stakes Playoffs. This deal ensures that all 41 live events on the US schedule, including The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, remain under the Sky banner. Notably, the partnership also includes the 2026 and 2028 Presidents Cups, broadening the network’s portfolio of international team competitions.
This follows the pivotal November extension with the DP World Tour, which keeps the European circuit and its global schedule of events in 25 countries on Sky until 2029. The deal is bolstered by the retention of the Ryder Cup, with Sky Sports set to exclusively broadcast the 2027 edition at Adare Manor in Ireland and the 2029 event at Hazeltine in the USA. By aligning both major tours and the Ryder Cup, Sky has effectively eliminated the threat of audience fragmentation, positioning itself as the “one-stop shop” for every significant moment in professional golf.
The McIlroy Effect: Driving Record Viewership
Sky Sports’ decision to commit long-term to golf is backed by undeniable data. In 2025, the network saw its highest golf viewership in history, with the PGA Tour alone seeing a 20% year-on-year increase. Much of this “McIlroy momentum” can be traced to the Northern Irishman’s triumphs at The Players and his emotional Grand Slam completion at the Masters. The final day of the 2025 Masters reportedly contributed to Sky’s most-watched day ever, proving that when the stars align, golf commands a premium audience that few other sports can match.
Beyond McIlroy, the resurgence of British and Irish talent—including victories for Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, and Shane Lowry—has created a “local hero” narrative that resonates deeply with subscribers. Jonathan Licht, Sky’s Chief Sports Officer, emphasized that the extension comes at a time when the sport’s storytelling is reaching new heights. By securing the rights to these athletes’ journeys through 2029, Sky is betting on a sustained period of European dominance that will keep fans tuned in from the first tee of the season to the final putt of the Race to Dubai.
Innovation through PGA Tour Studios
The 2026–2029 deals aren’t just about maintaining the status quo; they are about fundamentally evolving the viewing experience. As part of the new PGA Tour agreement, Sky is partnering directly with the newly launched PGA Tour Studios. This collaboration provides the broadcaster with unprecedented access to Tour content, including additional camera feeds, remote replay capabilities, and enhanced technical resources for every event. Starting in 2026, Sky’s on-air talent will also be featured in the PGA Tour’s “World Feed,” bringing a distinctly British and Irish perspective to the global broadcast.
This technical integration is part of a broader “Total Golf” initiative. Whether it’s the debut of Spidercam at The Open or real-time data overlays during the TGL (Tiger and Rory’s new league), Sky is utilizing its technological prowess to bridge the gap between the armchair fan and the fairway. The network’s ability to blend expert analysis with cutting-edge production has become its trademark, ensuring that even as the sport evolves with new formats and leagues, the quality of the “Sky Sports Golf” brand remains the industry benchmark.
The Full Major Sweep
Crucially, the new tour extensions sit alongside Sky’s existing long-term agreements for all of golf’s most significant standalone events. The broadcaster remains the exclusive home of all four men’s majors—The Masters, the PGA Championship, the US Open, and The Open Championship—as well as all five women’s majors. Combined with the recent five-year extension with the USGA (taking the US Open rights to 2030) and the ongoing partnership with the Ladies European Tour, Sky Sports offers a level of coverage that is unrivaled in the sports media landscape.
As we look toward 2026, the message from Sky Group is clear: golf is a cornerstone of their premium sports offering. With a rights portfolio that covers every corner of the globe and every level of the game, the network has successfully weathered the storm of recent industry disruptions. For the millions of golf fans across the UK and Ireland, the next four years promise a steady stream of “unmissable moments,” all delivered with the polish and passion that only Sky Sports can provide.
