The 88th playing of The Masters is gearing up to be a highly anticipated event for the first major of 2024 in two months.
However, Verne Lundquist, 83, announced that this year’s Masters will be his 40th and final season behind the microphone at Augusta National.
Lundquist, who was a received the Sports Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in the same year in 2016, has been the voice of the Masters since 1983 and has called the action every year, except 1997-98.
He has been behind the microphone calling some of the greatest moments in not only tournament history, but sports history.
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Legendary Verne Lundquist to call final Masters Tournament in 2024
He called Jack Nicklaus’ winning putt on the 17th green on Sunday at the 1986 Masters for Nicklaus 18th and final major victory that ended with an emphatic “Yes Sir” as the ball fell into the cup.
19 years later, he was behind the microphone for Tiger Woods immaculate and meticulous chip-in on the 16th green, en route to Woods putting on his fourth green jacket in 2005.
He has called many Masters tournaments alongside some historic analysts, including three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo, 1984 Masters Champion Ben Crenshaw, 1991 Open Champion Ian Baker Finch, 1977 PGA Champion Lanny Wadkins, two-time Masters runner-up Ken Venturi as well as David Feherty, and Judy Rankin.
Over the years, Lundquist has become a sports broadcasting icon, dating back to his making his debut for KTBC TV in Austin in 1963 and working for ABC Sports from for 12 years.
Lundquist, who was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 2020, has also broadcasted a multitude of sports beyond golf, including being behind the mic on the Dallas Cowboys Radio Network from 1967 to 1982 before joining CBS Sports.
He also broadcasted three Olympic Winter Games in figure skating, in addition to being behind the microphone for college football and basketball, including doing play-by-play at the NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball National Championship for 33 seasons.
The 87th Masters will definitely be one for ages, especially on Sunday, April 14th for the final round and Lundquist’s final moments covering golf’s first major tournament on the calendar.