Quick Brief
- Apple Sports now covers all official PGA Tour and LPGA Tour events with live scoring
- Hole-by-hole results and individual scorecards available for every player
- Coverage launches February 5, 2026 with PGA’s WM Phoenix Open tournament
- App remains free for all iPhone users running iOS 17.2 or later
Apple has expanded its Sports app beyond team sports with the addition of professional golf coverage. The February 4, 2026 update introduces comprehensive PGA Tour and LPGA Tour tracking, delivering live leaderboards and player-specific data at no cost. This positions Apple Sports as a free alternative to existing golf tracking platforms.
What Apple Sports Golf Coverage Includes
The golf integration delivers three core tracking capabilities. Users access live scores for every official PGA Tour and LPGA Tour event, including all four major championships. Hole-by-hole results update in real-time as players complete each shot, matched with individual scorecards showing cumulative performance across 18 holes.
Tournament coverage spans the entire season, providing round-by-round scoring from qualifying through final rounds. The WM Phoenix Open serves as the launch event, running February 5-8, 2026, with continuous coverage following the PGA and LPGA calendars.
How does Apple Sports compare to dedicated golf apps?
Apple Sports provides free access to live PGA and LPGA scoring with hole-by-hole tracking and leaderboards. The app integrates directly into iOS without requiring separate downloads for each tour. Other sports apps like theScore offer golf coverage but include advertising.
Live Activities and Lock Screen Integration
iPhone users running iOS 18 receive real-time tournament updates directly on their Lock Screen through Live Activities. Score changes, leaderboard shifts, and player position updates appear as persistent notifications. Apple Watch compatibility extends these alerts to wrist-based tracking for users following tournaments while mobile.
The Game Card Sharing function allows fans to broadcast tournament highlights across messaging platforms. Users can share specific leaderboard snapshots or player performance cards with contacts.
Personalization and Multi-Sport Management
The Apple Sports home screen organizes golf tournaments alongside other followed sports through customizable grouping. Users set display order preferences, with favorited players and tournaments appearing at the top of the feed. Personalization syncs across the Apple ecosystem favorites selected in Apple Sports automatically appear in the Apple TV app and Apple News sports sections.
The February update also introduced four European soccer federation cups: Germany’s DFB-Pokal, France’s Coupe de France, Italy’s Coppa Italia, and Spain’s Copa del Rey. This brings Apple Sports’ total coverage to multiple leagues and competitions across six sports categories.
What devices support Apple Sports golf tracking?
Apple Sports requires iPhone models running iOS 17.2 or later for basic functionality. Live Activities features demand iOS 18 for Lock Screen integration. Apple Watch support requires watchOS 11 or later. The app is available in more than 40 countries and regions as of February 2026.
Tour Coverage and Limitations
Apple Sports covers PGA Tour and LPGA Tour events exclusively. The announcement does not mention other professional golf tours such as the DP World Tour, LIV Golf, or PGA Tour Champions. Users following these circuits must use dedicated apps or web-based trackers.
The app provides scoring data and statistics only. Video content, including tournament highlights and shot replays, is not available within Apple Sports.
Availability and Device Requirements
Apple Sports remains free to download from the App Store with no subscription tiers or in-app purchases. The app requires iOS 17.2 as the minimum operating system. Users in more than 40 countries and regions can access the app.
Live Activities support requires iOS 18 devices. Apple Watch integration requires watchOS 11 or later. Golf coverage launches simultaneously across all supported regions starting February 5, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does Apple Sports show international golf tours?
Apple Sports currently covers only PGA Tour and LPGA Tour events as announced February 4, 2026. Other professional tours are not included in the initial golf release.
Can I watch a live golf video on Apple Sports?
No. Apple Sports displays scores and statistics only. The app does not include video streaming capabilities.
Does Apple Sports golf tracking work on iPad?
Apple Sports is currently available for iPhone only. iPad compatibility has not been announced.
How does Apple Sports get live golf data?
Apple provides real-time scoring feeds that update hole-by-hole as players complete shots during tournament rounds.
Can I track specific golfers across multiple tournaments?
Yes. Users can favorite individual players to receive alerts and prioritized score updates across PGA or LPGA events.
Does Apple Sports show betting odds for golf?
No. Apple Sports provides scores and statistics without gambling lines or wagering integrations.
What iOS version do I need for golf tracking?
Apple Sports requires iOS 17.2 or later. Live Activities features require iOS 18 or later.
When does golf coverage start?
Golf coverage launches with the WM Phoenix Open on February 5, 2026.
