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Jim Nantz: My Favorite Masters Tournaments

By Kathlene Bissell

AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 10: Patrons watch the play at the 16th hole during the second round of the 2015 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2015 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 10: Patrons watch the play at the 16th hole during the second round of the 2015 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2015 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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We all have a favorite Masters – Jim Nantz has his. What are yours?

The Masters captures the imagination. Every golf fan has at least one favorite Masters and when golf fans gather they inevitably share their memories. Last week CBS Sports provided access to their top team for questions about this year’s Masters.  Topics ranged from the new 4G TV, said to be higher definition than HD, to who will be the hole announcers, to memorable Masters moments.

With the departure of David Feherty and the addition Dottie Pepper, things will look and sound a little different this year.  The 13th goes to Dottie Pepper, making her the first woman to announce at the Masters. Peter Kostis will take duties at the 15th.   The rest are the same as 2015 with Frank Nobilo at 11 and 12,  Bill Macatee at 14, Verne Lundquist at 16, Ian-Baker Finch at 17 and Jim Nantz and Sir Nick Faldo at 18.

“We kind of thought it made sense,” Sean McManus Chairman of CBS Sports said when asked about his choice. “It’s obviously the first year Dottie’s done the Masters for us. There’s no science to this. Both are fully proficient in calling a hole.”  He added that Peter Kostis had earned the slot at the 15th.

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    • The meatiest topic of conversation for all was the 1986 Masters, won by Jack Nicklaus, his 18th major, and CBS has a created special about it.  As it happens, 1986 was Jim Nantz’s first Masters.  This year marks his 31st.

    “That day doesn’t even feel real anymore, Nantz said.  “It is such a wonderful memory in my life.”

    Just like you remember golf shots, TV people remember what was said at certain sporting events.  For instance, the CBS crew remembered that on Sunday in 1986, Nantz said about Nicklaus, “the bear has come out of hibernation.”

    That same day, Lance Barrow, Executive Producer for CBS Sports, was riding shotgun for the legendary producer and director Frank Chirkinian.

    “I was sitting next to Frank (Chirkinian).  Jack was playing with Sandy Lyle that day.  They were maybe an hour, maybe 45 minutes, ahead of the last group that day,” Barrow recalled.

    Nicklaus birdied the 8th hole, and Barrow asked Chirkinian if he wanted the replay, and Chirkinian said no, don’t talk to me about Nicklaus.

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    “Finally Jack birdies the 11th hole,” Barrow continued, “and I said, ‘I know you said Jack doesn’t mean anything, but he birdied the 11th. And he said to me ‘Budda ( Barrow’s nickname, for his rotund form), let’s get it going.’”

    At the end of Nicklaus’ round, Barrow said it was the only time he ever saw Chirkinian openly root for a player.

    “That was the only tournament I ever saw him get excited. When he ( Nicklaus) hit that long putt at 18, Frank stood up and was trying to will that putt into the hole,” Barrow said. “That was the greatest day of my career.”

    “I can remember the telecast like it happened yesterday,” Nantz added. “We didn’t know at it at the time, but it’s going to be one of the great days in my life.”

    Nantz said he could hardly believe he was lucky enough to have his first Masters be the same year that Nicklaus won his 6th green jacket.

    While everyone has their own favorite Masters moments, there are four others that stand out for Nantz.

    “It’s hard to boil them down,” he began.  “But I have to have ‘92 in there because in ‘92 Fred Couples won the Masters and Freddie and I shared a dorm suite at the University of Houston, and when we showed up at school, our goals were very distinct. He wanted to one day win the Masters, and I would openly talk about how one day I wanted to broadcast the Masters.”

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    He said they would make-believe they were in Butler Cabin and Nantz would do a pretend interview of Couples who wore a pretend green jacket.

    “For that to one day happen, April 12, 1992, that’s pretty hard to top, so that one’s right up there,” Nantz added.

    The next, to no one’s surprise is the Tiger Woods victory in 1997.

    “Tiger’s win in ‘97 was such an important historical moment for the game,” Nantz said. “Of course Tiger broke every virtually every single tournament record that existed —  youngest to ever win– largest margin of victory — set the 72 hole scoring record which of course Jordan matched last year. It was just as dominating a performance as we have ever seen at Augusta and probably ever will. Even though it wasn’t dramatic in terms of the competitive nature, it was a thrill to be a part of that broadcast documenting that step-for-step.”

    That was when Nantz made his “One for the ages” comment.

    His next is Phil Mickelson in 2004.

    “He had been dogged for years about his inability to win a major,” Nantz said. “He got asked at virtually every tour stop about his, at that point, inability to close out a major. Did he ever want to win a major, and all these things. He just kept having to answer, and for him to come to the 72nd hole and knock in a putt, a winning birdie, it was pretty special to be an eyewitness to that, too.”

    Then he added one more.

    “Jordan Speith, 2015, to watch Jordan come in and shoot 270, 18-under par, and at his age, and to know that was the launch of what’s going to be a very, very big career, that was sweet to be there to document that,” he concluded.

    CBS Sports coverage is extensive both on air and on-line.

    To get everyone in the mood for the Thursday morning start, CBS Sports Network will replay of the 2015 Masters third and final rounds on Tuesday, April 5 (7:00 PM, ET) and Wednesday, April 6 (7:00 PM, ET).

    CBSSports.com has Masters Live, which is full-day video coverage on four channels. The coverage will follow select featured groups each day throughout their entire round for the first time.

    The 2016 Masters Live line-up of channels includes:   Featured Groups: Live streaming coverage of select groupings each day throughout their entire round; Amen Corner; 15 & 16; and Masters On The Range which will feature interviews with players and analysis of the field.

    Next: Augusta National: Ranking the Holes

    Following the conclusion of coverage on CBS, CBS Sports Network also will re-air the 2016 final round on Monday, April 11 at 1:00 PM, ET.

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