As CBS Sports play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz prepares to call the Masters Tournament from Augusta National Golf Club for the 40th time in his broadcasting career, recent comments about his potential retirement circulated across the internet. On numerous occasions in the past, Nantz has talked about wanting to reach the 100th playing of the tournament, which would take place in 2036, but he claims that he never declared aiming to retire after that iteration.
Conversely, he has talked about wanting to be at Augusta for that edition of the Masters and stated that it would be his scheduled date of retirement should all the stars align. Nantz walked back these comments on a media call earlier in the week, claiming that he did not attempt to put a timeline on his tenure.
During a recent interview on the Dan Patrick Show, Nantz was asked by Patrick if there was going to be an 11-year retirement tour. In response, Nantz cited that they had this discussion on his show in 2016 and that the entire narrative went viral for no reason last week. Claiming that it was not a story, he talked about how it got spun and would never want the attention surrounding his exit from the tournament broadcasts.
“I said, ‘That would be, in a perfect world, my last show [if] I’d be able to make it,’ if I could, God willing, CBS willing, Augusta willing,” Nantz explained. “I would love to get to the 100th playing of the Masters Tournament, and if that’s the case and if we did get there, that’d probably be my retirement date, but I say that with a twinkle in my eye, Dan. I don’t really think about it. I’m thinking about this show now, and by the way, maybe I don’t make it there, maybe I go beyond it. I don’t want to start putting a countdown clock on it.”
With Nantz reaching his 40th call of the tournament this year, he will tie Verne Lundquist as having called the most editions of the Masters Tournament in his career. Lundquist retired from the proceedings after last year, and CBS revealed that Frank Noblio will be moving into the tower hovering over the Par-3 16th hole after previously calling strokes from Amen Corner. In addition to his time at Augusta, Nantz has also called seven Super Bowl championships throughout his career, and Patrick asked if he would rather call one more Super Bowl or Masters Tournament should he have to choose.
“I think you know the answer to that,” Nantz said. “I’ll let you answer it – you know the answer to that. I was given the blessing of having, I think it’s the fourth-most Super Bowl calls of all time tied with Curt Gowdy, so they’re all special, but I wouldn’t trade the Masters for anything in the world.”
CBS Sports will be covering the Masters Tournament for the 70th consecutive year beginning on Thursday, April 10 from Augusta National. The CBS television network and Paramount+ will be airing the tournament live that weekend featuring Nantz as the host with lead analyst Trevor Immelman. Ian Baker-Finch, Andrew Catalon, Dottie Pepper, Amanda Balionis and the aforementioned Frank Noblio will also comprise the announcing team for the competition. This will mark the first Masters Tournament from CBS Sports since the retirement of longtime chairman Sean McManus and under the direction of president and chief executive officer David Berson.
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