Tiger Woods On Verne Lundquist's Iconic Masters Call
The five-time Masters champion paid tribute to Lundquist, and his famous 2005 call, before the 2024 edition
The conclusion of the 2024 Masters will also bring the end of an era when CBS Sports golf broadcast legend Verne Lundquist will call time on his career after four decades behind the mic at the Augusta National Major.
During that time, Lundquist has been responsible for some unforgettable calls. One of them came in 1986 with his “maybe… yes, sir!” line as eventual winner Jack Nicklaus’ ball dropped into the penultimate hole to give him the outright lead.
Then, 19 years later, Lundquist made another call that resonated with millions. Tiger Woods had just struck a shot that, around 16 seconds later, would result in one of the greatest moments in Masters history.
Woods’ chip-in from the edge of the 16th green began with him directing the ball far to the left of the flag. It slowly curved round and began rolling down the slope towards the hole. It didn’t seem to have the momentum to drop, though, and hung on the lip agonizingly before finally disappearing into the hole.
At that point, Lundquist found the words and tone perfect for such a majestic moment: “In your life, have you seen anything like that?”
It’s hardly likely anyone had, and certainly not at such a crucial moment, as Woods’ astonishing birdie gave him a two-shot lead over Chris DiMarco with two to play before he ultimately closed out the victory in a playoff.
Before the 2024 tournament, Woods paid tribute to Lundquist’s career, including that iconic call. He said: “Yeah, I've heard that call a couple times. Yeah, that - I mean, he has just an amazing ability to bring in the audience and describe a situation and just be able to narrate it in a way that is poetic but it's also - he describes it with emotionality.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
“He just draws the audience in. It's amazing. It's, I think, his 40th year, I think it is now, 39th, 40th year, to be able to call the Masters. That's what I grew up watching. I grew up listening to Verne. And he made a nice call there at 16, and it's one that I've been lucky enough to - I will have that memory with Verne for the rest of my life.”
A memory Tiger Woods will hold dear for the rest of his life.Woods spoke earlier in the week about Verne Lundquist's iconic call on No. 16 in 2005. #themasters pic.twitter.com/8qA4t0T3n2April 14, 2024
That wasn’t quite the end of the story, either. During the five-time Masters champion’s final round on Sunday, Lundquist was seated to the right of the green where Woods had shown such mastery in 2005. The 15-time Major winner strode over and shook his hand, creating one more never-to-be-forgotten moment involving the two legends.
Linked forever by the 16th hole at Augusta National.Verne Lundquist looks on at Tiger Woods as he prepares to call his final broadcast at the Masters. pic.twitter.com/l0SuoVH086April 14, 2024
Verne. pic.twitter.com/ZkG7auGHNlApril 14, 2024
Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley also paid tribute to Lundquist before The Masters. "I still get chills when hearing the famous calls by an incredible Verne Lundquist of two of the most iconic Sunday moments in Masters history,” began Ridley.
“Jack Nicklaus in 1986, with putter raised following a crucial putt into the hole on No. 17 on his way to his sixth Masters title; and in 2005 Tiger Woods' unbelievable pitch shot on No. 16, which catapulted him to his fourth Green Jacket.
"Who could forget the drama as Tiger's ball stopped momentarily and then fell into the hole? You're right, Verne, we have not seen anything like that.”
Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.
He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.
Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.
Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.
-
World Wide Technology Championship Prize Money Payout 2024
The FedEx Cup Fall section of the PGA Tour season heads to Mexico, as Erik van Rooyen defends his title
By Mike Hall Published
-
Exclusive: 'Wentworth Club Is Not For Sale' - BMW PGA Championship Host Denies Saudi PIF Sale Report
The iconic British club says it is not for sale and has categorically denied a report that it is in talks with the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion Confirms He Will Give Up Major Starts In Favor Of Immediate DP World Tour Chance
China's Wenyi Ding confirmed he will be leaving college and giving up starts at The Masters and The Open Championship in favor of immediately starting his pro career
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
'A Lot Of Damage' To Augusta National But Masters Expected To Be Held As Planned
Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley says The Masters will be staged on time despite extensive damage to the course caused by Hurricane Helene
By Paul Higham Published
-
This Much-Loved Masters Feature Just Made Its Full LIV Golf Debut
The 'Any Shot, Any Time' feature officially launched on the LIV Golf app in Andalucia as Sergio Garcia claimed victory at Valderrama
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Are Masters Champions Exempt For Life?
Winning the Masters comes with a lifetime exemption to future tournaments
By Joel Kulasingham Published
-
The Amateur Playing In His Seventh Major And Third Masters This Week
Career amateur Stewart Hagestad has made it back to Augusta National after another US Mid-Am victory
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Scheffler The New Tiger? Time For Woods To Say Goodbye? 10 Takeaways From The 2024 Masters
We highlight ten of the key stories to come from the 88th edition of the Masters
By Michael Weston Published
-
Tommy Fleetwood Banks Huge Sum For Local Augusta Caddie After Englishman's Best Masters Result
Gray Moore is a former Augusta National caddie master who was helping Fleetwood out after his regular caddie Ian Finnis was forced to stay home
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Eight Masters Contenders In The Field For This Week's $20 Million RBC Heritage
There's no respite for the world's elite as, following the Masters, the PGA Tour circuit moves to Harbour Town and the RBC Heritage
By Matt Cradock Published