Legendary CBS Broadcaster Verne Lundquist to Retire After 40th Masters in April

It’s the end of an era for CBS and its sports fans. 

Verne Lundquist, the legendary commentator who became synonymous with the network, announced he will call his 40th and final Masters tournament this April. Lundquist, 83, had retired from calling college sports for the network in 2018. 

Lundquist has an encyclopedia’s worth of memorable calls. Still, his trademark phrases were tied to the word yes, whether it was “Yes, sir!” after Jack Nicklaus’s particular 17th hole putt at the 50th Masters in 1986 or using the singular word after Christian Laettner’s legendary shot over Kentucky six years later. Lundquist also had several calls throughout Tiger Woods’s career, from his 16th-hole Masters shot in 2005 to a Woods birdie shot at the same hole 14 years later. 

The Minnesota native had been teasing the past few years that his 40th Masters would likely be his last. Woods has yet to commit to play in the Masters after recently returning from ankle surgery. Maybe he does and gives Lundquist one last memorable call for his career.