Final Four Snags Jim Nantz’s Masters Plan Even After Retirement

Jim Nantz was planning to start a new travel routine around the Masters, now in his second year not calling March Madness games for CBS. 

But even in retirement from his college basketball duties, the men’s NCAA tournament, which ends every year the Monday before the Masters begins (the following Thursday), is still keeping Nantz from arriving at Augusta National in a timely fashion.

“I was prepared for this to be a new approach to Augusta this year,” Nantz said Tuesday during CBS’s Masters preview call. “The plan was to get there on Sunday before, then all of a sudden, my University of Houston basketball team went on a roll, and found its way to San Antonio—and I have to be there for that on Saturday. That has brought an abrupt change to the current itinerary.” Houston, Nantz’s alma mater, plays Duke in the Final Four on Saturday night.

Nantz worked his first Masters and NCAA tournament five in 1986, and ultimately, as the lead announcer for both, that annually meant flying into Augusta from that year’s Final Four location “at the crack of dawn on Tuesday morning.” 

“If we so happen to be fortunate enough to defeat Duke and play Monday night, I will be right back to my old schedule again,” said Nantz, who won’t be working, but rather enjoying the Final Four in person as a fan.

CBS has weekend Masters coverage April 12 and 13, but Nantz and others from the network also contribute to ESPN’s early-round coverage on Thursday and Friday.

Retirement Rumors

Nantz also tried to walk back—at least somewhat—his viral comments about retiring from the Masters in 2036, which would be the 100th edition of the tournament and his 51st time working it.

“There was a lot said last week about a certain retirement date, I think it was called,” Nantz said. “I never made that proclamation or declaration. I’ve said it for decades that I would really like to one day be able to be at Augusta for the hundredth playing of the Masters.”

Last week, Nantz outlined his potential retirement plans in an interview with Bunkered: “If all the stars aligned, right now, it feels like a pretty good exit point: April 14, 2036. That is my scheduled retirement date. It would be a perfect place to walk out,” he said.

Nantz, 65, implied Tuesday that his comments were more tongue-in-cheek than they seemed.  

“There was not an attempt there to try to put a timeline on it,” he said. “I’ve always said it with a wink in my eye, and a little whimsy, that if all things worked out and everybody wanted me to continue to do it, I would like to be there in 2036. I never wanted to have any attention on me and my longevity at Augusta.”

Despite the attempted clarification, it’s clear Nantz wants to work the Masters as long as he can. 

“It is an honor beyond words,” he said. “And we’ll see what the good Lord has as far as plans for me—maybe it’s 2036, maybe it’s beyond, maybe it’s earlier than that. I don’t know. I’m locked in on one thing: this edition of the Master’s. And next year, God willing, if I’m there again, I’m gonna be completely in the moment.”