CBS Sports’ Verne Lundquist will end a four-decade run in calling the Masters, he announced on social media.
Lundquist, 83, the golden-throated analyst who has described some of Augusta National’s biggest moments, said this year’s Masters, his 40th, will be his final one.
From his “Yes, sir!” punctuation of Jack Nicklaus’ pivotal birdie putt on the 17th green of the 1986 Masters to his “Oh, my goodness!” salute to Tiger Woods’ parabolic chip-in from behind the 16th green en route to the 2005 title, Lundquist has been associated with some of Augusta’s greatest calls.
Lundquist also has called the NFL, college football and basketball, notably SEC football for CBS, in a network career dating to 1974.
Since moving behind the microphone for the 1983 Masters, Lundquist has been an annual spring presence at Augusta except for 1997-98. In recent years, he has worked in the tower behind the par-3 16th hole.
The Masters, to be played April 11-14, also will be the final edition for CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus, who announced his retirement last year. READ MORE
The USGA released qualifying sites for this year’s men’s and women’s U.S. Opens.
For the U.S. Women’s Open, to be played May 30-June 2 at Lancaster (Pennsylvania) Country Club, 36-hole qualifiers will be held at 23 sites in the U.S., Canada, Japan and Germany on April 15-May 20. Online registration opened last week. READ MORE
For the men’s U.S. Open, to be played June 13-16 at Pinehurst (North Carolina) Resort, 18-hole local qualifiers will be played at 109 sites in the U.S. and Canada on April 22-May 20. The 36-hole final qualifiers will be held at 13 sites in the U.S., Canada, England and Japan on May 20-June 3. Online registration begins February 21. READ MORE
TAP-INS
Scotland’s Dean Robertson was named Walker Cup captain for the Great Britain and Ireland team in a historic move for the century-old match against the top American amateurs. Robertson, 53, a former champion of the European Tour’s Italian Open, is the first professional to captain GB&I in the biennial match. Jim Holtgrieve, a reinstated amateur and former touring professional, captained the Americans in the 2011 and 2013 matches. The 2025 Walker Cup will be played September 6-7 at Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, California. The U.S. leads the series, 39-9-1. READ MORE
Golf Canada, which governs the game nationally, finalized its 2024 calendar, which will feature 11 national amateur championships and the World Junior Girls in addition to Canada’s national opens on the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour. READ MORE
Compiled by Steve Harmon