‘Hello friends.’
Jim Nantz’s voice is as synonymous with the Masters as Pimento Cheese and azalea flowers. He’s anchored CBS’s coverage from Augusta National Golf Club since 1989, but there’s one phrase he hasn’t said yet.
‘The long journey is over. (Rory) McIlroy has his masterpiece,’ Nantz called as McIlroy dropped to his feet in tears.
Rory McIlroy won the 2025 Masters on Sunday after defeating Justin Rose in a playoff after they both finished at 11-under through 72 holes. McIlroy’s Masters win marks his fifth career major and first since 2014, but more importantly, the elusive green jacket completes McIlroy’s career Grand Slam. McIlroy is only the sixth golfer to win all four golf majors, joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, who last accomplished the feat in 2000.
Nantz added the fourth and final round of the 2025 Masters was ‘one of the strangest rounds I’ve ever seen.’
Jim Nantz calls Rory McIlroy’s historic Masters win
Earlier in the broadcast, Nantz predicted that hole No. 9 could be a good omen for McIlroy.
“A lot of Masters champions have birdied the ninth, including Scottie Scheffler last year and Jack Nicklaus in 1986,” Nantz said. As luck would have it, McIlroy proceeded to birdie the par-4 No. 9 and made the turn with a four-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau.
McIlroy had an opportunity to win the Masters tournament outright, but he missed a putt that would have claimed a green jacket and ended with a bogey on hole No. 18, sending the tournament into a playoff. As McIlroy approached another putt to win the title in the playoff on No. 18, Nantz questioned, ‘Is he ready for it to be his time?’
McIlroy sank a putt to birdie the first playoff hole, winning his first Masters tournament to complete a career Grand Slam.
‘His reaction is 11 years in the making,’ Nantz said as McIlroy soaked in his historic Masters win.
Despite being the voice of the Masters for the past 40 years, Nantz has no plans to leave the booth anytime soon. The legendary broadcaster, who also provides CBS’s NFL coverage since 2004, said he’s taking each tournament “one year at a time.” Nantz’s 40th call of the Masters this year ties former CBS broadcaster Verne Lundquist, who called his 40th and final Masters last year.
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