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It is not often that one of the finest commentators in sports, and a titan of his profession, feels pressure to maintain a high standard of broadcasting.
Yet that was what Jim Nantz, the man often considered the voice of the Masters, felt when commentating alongside the late Peter Alliss at The 140th Open, as he shares in a heartfelt and insightful tribute featured on The Open Podcasts’ recent celebration of Alliss’ life.
One of the most respected and beloved broadcasters in the United States, Nantz’s love for The Open is fierce, and for a period of this century the 61-year old commentated for the BBC’s full coverage of the Championship.
In 2011 at Royal St George’s, Nantz had one of his greatest commentary experiences alongside Alliss.
“The BBC style of broadcasting is quite opposite of the way we do things over in the US,” Nantz said. “We have announcers positioned behind the holes, and over here for CBS I’m broadcasting always behind the 18th green.
“But for the BBC, you actually sit in a trailer without a birds-eye view, without a real look at the action. You’re not as I am (in the United States) from the tower, where I’m looking down at the green and can call the action with my eyes. The BBC approach was to call it off of the monitor, and to pair up commentators, and the commentators would go in 45-minute to one-hour stretches.
“The biggest assignment would be to find yourself blending in tandem with Peter Alliss, which is what the case was for me in 2011 during a good portion of the final round in Darren Clarke’s victory year. That to me was a true career highlight.
“It was such a thrill, and he was such an iconic figure to me, to know that I’m going to have long stretches just to go back and forth with Peter Alliss, with the great man. My gosh, what an honour."
For more from Jim Nantz and The Open Podcasts episode paying tribute to Peter Alliss, visit: https://www.theopen.com/latest/2021/01/jim-nantz-and-peter-alliss
The R&A