The 44th Ryder Cup at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome witnessed a staggering attendance of 271,191 individuals hailing from 100 diverse countries. Millions more avidly followed the tournament from the comforts of their homes through television and various digital platforms.
The collective social media presence surrounding the Ryder Cup was equally impressive, with a total of 2,653 posts spanning official Ryder Cup Europe, Ryder Cup USA, and joint Ryder Cup social channels throughout the event week. These posts generated an astounding 600 million impressions and pageviews.
Additionally, the official Ryder Cup social media channels garnered 197.6 million views, accompanied by a notable 26.7 million interactions, leading to a substantial increase of 500,000 new followers.
Notably, Ryder Cup Europe's platforms alone amassed a remarkable 117 percent increase in impressions, numbering 347,106,426. This was in stark contrast to the 2018 Ryder Cup held in Paris, which tallied a total of 160 million impressions.
One particular highlight of fan engagement was the footage captured from the European Team Bus on Sunday night, which resonated deeply with viewers. In the first 48 hours, this content garnered 14,054,985 views across all channels, accompanied by an impressive 19,188,189 impressions and an engagement tally of 1,482,709.
Furthermore, early viewership data from global broadcasts demonstrated substantial increases. Average viewership on Sky Sports in the UK saw a remarkable 38 percent surge compared to the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits and a 25 percent uptick compared to the 2018 edition at Le Golf National.
This rendered it the most-watched Ryder Cup ever on Sky Sports.
Guy Kinnings, Executive Director of the Ryder Cup, expressed his thoughts on the event's global appeal and continued growth. He highlighted the significant rise in engagement compared to previous record-breaking editions and emphasized the uniqueness of the Ryder Cup in the world of sports. The event's extraordinary numbers served as a testament to the captivating entertainment provided by the European and US teams on the course, culminating in the unforgettable scenes of Luke Donald and his players celebrating a momentous victory at Marco Simone.
Kinnings commended Luke Donald as a magnificent captain and underlined how these scenes epitomized the essence of playing for a cause greater than oneself, which had consistently inspired Luke and his players throughout his captaincy.
