Golf streaming is more in-demand than ever. The 2023 Masters got 12 million viewers on CBS alone, making it the most-watched golf tournament on any American network for five years. Simply put, golf fans love watching the sport, but there’s a catch: they don’t want to splash huge amounts of money out on cable TV or streaming services. Instead, they want to watch all the major tournaments, from the US Open to PGA Championship, for free (or at least at a reasonable price). Luckily, it’s easier to do than you think. Here’s what you need to know.
🏌️ Watch Golf for Free: Getting Started
When it comes to watching live golf for free, fans have a few options. These are:
- LIV Golf Plus app (iOS and Android)
- The official Masters website (masters.com)
- The official US Open website (usopen.com)
The most popular of the bunch is the LIV Golf Plus app, which you can download on both iPhone and Android. Through the app, any member can watch all coverage of LIV Golf for free, which is the Saudi-backed golf league designed to rival the PGA Tour. It isn’t for everyone — but LIV Golf is free-to-watch and a great option for both casual and diehard golf fans out there.
On top of this, you also also watch all the action from the Masters and US Open every year through the official event sites. For example, when the next Masters takes place in April 2025, you can simply visit the official Masters website and tune into all of the action. Yep, it’s that easy. The only downside is that (as of right now) the Masters and US Open are the only major golf championships that you can watch for free online.
📺 Live Golf: Official Cable and Streaming Options
Most of today’s golf fans also subscribe to cable TV channels or streaming services so that they can consistently watch all action from all 4 majors (plus other PGA tournament events) every year. And in terms of the streaming service options, these are the big-hitters:
| ESPN+ | $11.99 per month |
| Peacock | $5.99 per month |
| YouTube TV | $72.99 per month |
It’s worth pointing out that there’s no single streaming service that covers every golf tournament, so fans usually have to switch between them depending on the current PGA Tour schedule. At the same time, some streaming services might not be available from your specific geographic location. For example, golf fans in the UK can’t watch ESPN+ and must instead rely on Sky Sports to watch all the golfing action.
ESPN+
ESPN+ is the main source for watching year-round golf coverage in the US. Over 35 PGA tournaments are covered by ESPN+ each year, including the fav-favorite PGA Championship, so there’s plenty of live golf to enjoy. And even though ESPN+ doesn’t currently have a free trial (but might do in the future), $11.99 per month is a relatively fair price to watch most of the action from the PGA Tour. Plus, you get to enjoy expert analysis and extended highlights, too, making it more than worth it.
Peacock
The next best option is Peacock. After joining Peacock for $7.99 (which is the starting price for its subscription model) you can then start live streaming tons of action throughout the annual golf calendar, including events from the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, and USGA. However, in terms of overall coverage and insight, Peacock is seen as the inferior option to ESPN+, which is why it isn’t as popular amongst golf fans.
YouTube TV
Finally, there’s YouTube TV. Launched back in 2017, YouTube TV has gradually grown in size and popularity in the sports streaming world, offering live streams of 100+ channels that include the likes of CBS and FOX. So, whichever golf tournament is currently taking place, there’s a good chance that one of the channels featured on YouTube TV is covering it, meaning you’ll rarely miss out. The catch, though, is that YouTube TV starts at $72.99 a month, which is extremely expensive for a streaming service. However, compared to traditional cable and satellite subscriptions, it’s actually quite affordable, which is why you might want to consider it if you’re a golf fan who also spends a lot of time on YouTube anyway.
What Are the Main Golf Championships?
As you would expect, the most streamed golf events every year are the four majors. These are:
🏆 The Masters
🏆 PGA Championship
🏆 US Open
🏆 Open Championship
Outside of these Championships, you also have the smaller (yet still incredibly popular) tournaments that also take place on the PGA Tour, such as the WM Phoenix Open and the Players Championship. Again, these tournaments are all broadcast live and can also be streamed through most major platforms, such as ESPN+.
One of the most popular things to do before any major golf tournament is for fans to make predictions and place bets, with the American golf betting market alone worth up to $5bn a year. For example, many of the sportsbooks recommended by Gamble USA have already opened their betting odds for the 2025 US Open, with Scottie Scheffler the current favorite at +410. Some fans have placed futures on him to win the tournament, but you might also want to consider the likes of Rory McIlroy (+1,000) and Xander Schauffele (+1,100) before placing your own bet.
Conclusion
It’s time to wrap up this golf streaming guide. You’re now up-to-date on how to watch golf for free (including the US Open and Masters) while also catching all the other action from the PGA Tour via official streaming platforms. It’s a smart strategy to look out for free trials, too, which are often made available by streaming providers ahead of big golf tournaments and events.