The PGA Tour has been known for its many historic players from around the world and deservingly so. But what are the shots and wins worth without the legendary broadcasts of the events and the commentators who brought them to life? The golf world has been digesting the recent announcement from CBS’s outstanding broadcaster Jim Nantz, who announced his inevitable farewell plans.
Nantz has been a prime voice in the sport, most specifically for the Masters Tournament. With that very own historic tournament to take place this April, Nantz took the time to get an early start on his announcement of a future retirement date. As the Masters lead broadcaster, he will be expected to continue his work for still quite some time to come. His plan is to retire at the 100th anniversary of the Masters in 2036, a 50-year mark since his first ever call at Augusta National in 1986.
Jim Nantz Preparing For Return
Life has many plans of its own, but Nantz has taken the initiative to get an early start on being the decider of his. With his eyes on a date in 2036, it will put the historic broadcaster at 76-years-old. According to an interview with Bunkered, Nantz laid out the blueprint in his quest to retire in a storybook fashion.
“If all the stars aligned, right now, it feels like a pretty good exit point: April 14, 2036,” Nantz said. “That is my scheduled retirement date. It would be a perfect place to walk out.”
From covering NCAA basketball and NFL games for quite some time, Nantz understands the golf world is where his career as a whole will end. His presence in the sport is still worthwhile, and will be put on display yet again in this season’s Masters Tournament with his trademark intro “hello friends.”
Trailblazer In Sports
It goes without question, the amount of success Nantz has had in this lane of sports broadcasting. Being a part of the team at CBS, he has taken advantage of an opportunity to show a true passion for sports. Although Nantz has now announced his anticipated plan, he has already voiced the possibility of extending it past the announced date.
“I know what’s going to happen,” Nantz said. “I’m going to get to that year, and I’m going to say, ‘You know, maybe I could do this for a while longer.’”
While retiring from calling college basketball’s final four in 2023, he is still one of the top voices to date covering the NFL season as well for CBS. With his acknowledgment of past broadcasters who have called games well past their expected retirement, Nantz has a feeling already brewing of duplicating that type of career, continuing an already historic body of work.
Come April, the Masters Tournament will take place yet again on maybe the biggest stage in all of golf. With his recent announcement, his presence will be appreciated at an even higher level. What he has been able to do for many different sports, is the true definition of his many broadcasting achievements, including his two-time sports Emmy Award, with wins for outstanding sports personality and Play-by-Play.
“The tug in the heart was probably driven the most by the Masters Tournament,” Nantz said.
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