Jim Nantz delivers touching Verne Lundquist sendoff at Masters

Verne Lundquist, the esteemed CBS broadcaster, called it a career at his 40th and final Masters on Sunday. The 83-year-old has been the voice behind many seminal moments at the Masters, including Tiger Woods’ chip-in birdie in 2005 and Jack Nicklaus’ 17th-hole birdie in 1986. On a still and beautiful Sunday evening at Augusta, Lundquist made his final call on the 16th hole at Augusta National.

Scottie Scheffler stepped onto the tee with a three-shot lead. His playing partner, Collin Morikawa, trailed him by five shots, while Ludvig Aberg, a group ahead, trailed by three.

“Hello,” Lundquist said, as Scheffler’s ball rolled to within 9 feet of the hole for birdie. “Now Scottie and Collin will begin that majestic walk and the applause will grow.”

“Verne, that crowd could just as well be standing for you,” fellow CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz said.

“Thrilled to be here Jim,” Lundquist replied. “Absolute thrill. I trust you’ll understand I’m going to take a deep breath.”

Morikawa and Scheffler made quick work of the 16th, with Morikawa two-putting for par, and Scheffler draining his birdie to take a four-shot lead with two holes to play.

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“Why not? Why not get in the hole?” Lundquist said as Scheffler’s putt rolled in. “Three birdies last four holes.”

Then, to Morikawa, as he cleaned up his par: “Well done. But the hour belongs to Scottie Scheffler. A four-shot lead with two to play. There you are.”

As the Scheffler and Morikawa headed to 17, Nantz offered a touching tribute to Lundquist.

“Verne wrote a book back in 2018 called ‘Play by Play,'” Nantz began. “In the last line of the book that you wrote, Verne, I want to apply it to you. You said thanks, to borrow a phrase, thanks for the memories. Your voice has been a beautiful instrument. Thank you for a wonderful soundtrack for all of our lives.”

“Thank you so much, Jim,” Lundquist replied. “It’s my honor, my privilege.”