Renowned sports commentator Verne Lundquist has been the voice of The Masters for an incredible 40 years.
Lundquist, born on July 17, 1940, in Duluth, Minnesota, attended Texas Lutheran University and began his broadcasting career with WFAA, where he commentated for the Dallas Cowboys until 1984.
In 2024, Lundquist announced that he would be retiring after the Masters, leaving fans nationwide questioning the reason behind his departure. The iconic broadcaster joined CBS Sports in 1985, where he has been a familiar voice for decades, except for a brief stint at TNT from 1995 to 1997.
Lundquist’s career has been illustrious, with him not only providing golf commentary but also serving as a play-by-play announcer for college football. He held the position of lead broadcaster for the SEC on CBS from 2000 to 2016, further solidifying his status as a broadcasting legend.
Speaking about his retirement, Lundquist stated, “It’s time. I’m not a spring chicken anymore.” His final broadcast during the 2024 Masters, scheduled from April 11 to April 14, promises to be an emotional one, as he bids farewell to a career that spanned several decades.
Lundquist described Augusta as the best golf course in America, if not the world, expressing his fondness for the tournament.
Following his retirement announcement, colleagues and fans alike praised Lundquist for his exceptional talent and contributions to sports broadcasting.
Jim Nantz, his longtime partner, called his calls “truly legendary,” emphasizing Lundquist’s lasting impact on the golfing world.
The sports commentator is happily married to Nancy Lundquist, whom he met in a serendipitous encounter in a bar in the early 1980s.
The couple tied the knot in 1982 and share a son named Vaughan Matthew Lundquist. Before Nancy, Verne had two previous marriages to Kathy Vernon from 1972 to 1980 and Patricia Lundquist from 1967 to 1971.
