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Jim Nantz is a well-known sports commentator and anchor, who has been a prominent figure in sports broadcasting for several decades. Nantz has been a key commentator for CBS Sports since 1985, covering major events such as the Masters Tournament, the Super Bowl, and various golf and NFL games. Given his extensive career and recent speculation, has Nantz retired from golf commentary?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Retirement from golf broadcasting | Jim Nantz has denied retirement rumors, but has stated that he plans to retire from broadcasting the Masters Tournament in 2036. |
| Retirement from other sports broadcasting | Nantz retired from calling college basketball's Final Four in 2023 and stepped down from calling games during the NCAA Tournament that same year. |
| Current broadcasting roles | Nantz is currently CBS's No. 1 voice for football and golf. |
| Career highlights | Nantz has been a commentator for some of golf's most significant moments, including Jack Nicklaus' sixth green jacket win in 1986. He has also been a part of Capital One's March Madness ad campaign. |
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Jim Nantz's career in golf broadcasting
Jim Nantz is an American sportscaster known for his work in broadcasting golf tournaments. He has been referred to as “the voice of golf” and has become synonymous with the Masters Tournament, which he has anchored for CBS since 1989.
Nantz's career in sports broadcasting began during his time at the University of Houston, where he played on the Cougars men's golf team alongside future professional golfers Fred Couples and Blaine McCallister. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Radio and Television Broadcasting in 1981 and got his first experience in sports broadcasting with the CBS Radio Network. He then worked as an anchor and sportscaster for KHOU in Houston, Texas, before becoming a weekend sports anchor on KSL-TV in Salt Lake City from 1982 to 1985.
In 1985, Nantz joined CBS Sports, initially working as a studio host for college football and basketball coverage, as well as an on-course reporter for PGA Tour golf. He called NFL games on CBS Radio Sports from 1988 to 1990 before moving to television. In 1989, he moved to play-by-play for two seasons, calling games for the NCAA Final Four men's basketball finals and the Masters Tournament.
Nantz has since become a legendary sports commentator, known for his old-fashioned approach to covering major sports moments. He has anchored CBS's coverage of the Masters Tournament for over 30 years and has guest commentated on the final round of The Open Championship for the BBC since 2009. In 2019, he became the only person to commentate on all four of golf's majors when he made a guest appearance during Fox's broadcast of the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.
Nantz has also been recognised for his distinctive broadcast style, which includes a penchant for historical facts and statistics, as well as his use of wordplay and puns. He has discussed the challenges of broadcasting golf, describing it as a "fireside chat" and a "storytelling demand".
Despite speculation about his retirement, Nantz has denied these claims and expressed his desire to continue working in the industry for as long as possible.
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Nantz's thoughts on his retirement
There have been rumours about Jim Nantz's retirement from golf commentary for years, but he has no plans to retire anytime soon. In an interview, Nantz said, "I really truly stay in the moment. I have never felt sharper than I am right now." He also mentioned that there are broadcasters who are working well beyond the age he would be in 2036, the year he is expected to retire.
Nantz has been a prominent figure in sports broadcasting for decades, with his career starting at the University of Houston, where he played on the Cougars men's golf team and studied Radio and Television Broadcasting. He joined CBS Sports in 1985 and has been the lead broadcaster for the Masters Tournament since 1989. He has also been CBS's No. 1 voice for football and golf.
In 2023, Nantz stepped down from calling college basketball's Final Four, but he remains at the forefront of sports broadcasting. He has anchored CBS's coverage of the Masters Tournament for over 30 years and has become synonymous with the event. He has also guest-commentated on the final round of The Open Championship for the BBC since 2009.
Nantz's retirement has been a topic of discussion for many years, with articles and interviews from over a decade ago mentioning his potential retirement. However, Nantz has always maintained that he has no immediate plans to retire and that he loves his job. He even joked about the rumours in an interview, saying, "My assistant Melissa found articles 10 years ago from many, many places [...] when somebody gets that information and then spins it like, 'Jim Nantz has announced his retirement,' no, that's actually journalistically really taking some liberties and it was inaccurate."
While Nantz has not ruled out retirement entirely, he seems content to continue his broadcasting career for the foreseeable future. He has expressed a desire to be a part of the 100th Masters Tournament in 2036, and maybe even beyond that. Only time will tell when Nantz will decide to hang up his broadcasting boots, but for now, he continues to be a beloved and respected figure in the world of sports commentary.
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Nantz's career as a student athlete
As a student at Marlboro High School, Jim Nantz was co-captain of the basketball team and co-captain and number one player on the golf team. He was also a member of the Bamm Hollow Country Club. After graduating high school, Nantz attended the University of Houston, where he played on the Cougars men's golf team, rooming with future professional golfers Fred Couples and Blaine McCallister.
During his time at the University of Houston, Nantz gained his first experience in sports broadcasting with the CBS Radio Network. He transmitted taped interviews to Win Elliot for the latter's Sports Central USA weekend reports. This early exposure to the industry set the foundation for his future career in sports commentary and broadcasting.
Nantz's dedication to his craft and his love for sports have been evident throughout his career. He has become a renowned sports commentator, known for his class and style, and has been an integral part of broadcasting some of the most consequential moments in sports history. Nantz's journey from a student athlete to a respected figure in sports broadcasting is a testament to his hard work and perseverance.
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Nantz's retirement date
Jim Nantz has been a prominent figure in sports broadcasting for several decades. He joined CBS Sports in 1985, initially working as a studio host for CBS's college football and basketball coverage and as an on-course reporter for PGA Tour golf. Over the years, he has become synonymous with the Masters Tournament, anchoring CBS's coverage since 1989.
Despite his long career, Nantz has no plans to retire anytime soon. In 2020, he addressed rumours of his retirement, stating that he had no plans to step away from broadcasting. He even mentioned the possibility of continuing beyond his initially planned retirement date:
> "I’ve always said it. Thank you. It goes longer than that. My assistant Melissa found articles 10 years ago from many, many places, the 'Dan Patrick Show,' Golf Digest, Richard Deitsch when he was writing for The New York Times."
In 2023, Nantz stepped down from calling games during the NCAA Tournament, but he remains CBS's No. 1 voice for football and golf. He even expressed his desire to continue until he is in his 80s.
However, in 2025, Nantz revealed his plans to retire as the Masters's lead broadcaster. He identified April 14, 2036, as his "scheduled retirement date," coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the Masters. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that this plan could change:
> "That is my scheduled retirement date. It would be a perfect place to walk out... We have broadcasters over here that have gone on well into their 80s, so that’s one of those 'wait and sees', I guess."
So, while Nantz has provided a tentative retirement date of April 14, 2036, he has also expressed flexibility and a willingness to continue beyond that date if circumstances allow.
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Nantz's career as a sports commentator
Jim Nantz is an American sportscaster and author, known for his work on telecasts of the National Football League (NFL), NCAA Division I men's basketball, the NBA, and the PGA Tour. His career in sports commentary began during his time at the University of Houston, where he played on the Cougars men's golf team and studied Radio and Television Broadcasting.
Nantz's first experience in sports broadcasting was with the CBS Radio Network while he was still a student. He transmitted taped interviews to Win Elliot for Sports Central USA weekend reports. After graduating in 1981, Nantz started his career as an anchor and sportscaster for KHOU in Houston, Texas. He then moved to KSL-TV in Salt Lake City, where he worked as a weekend sports anchor from 1982 to 1985, covering BYU football and Utah Jazz games.
In 1985, Nantz joined CBS Sports, initially working as a studio host for college football and basketball coverage and as an on-course reporter for PGA Tour golf. He also called NFL games on Westwood One from 1988 to 1990 before transitioning to television. Nantz has been the lead play-by-play announcer on CBS's NFL coverage since 2004 and has anchored their coverage of the Masters Tournament since 1989. He has also called multiple Super Bowls, including Super Bowl LIII in 2019 and Super Bowl LV in 2021.
Nantz has been recognised for his commentary, winning the Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Personality, Play-by-Play in 2009 and 2010. In addition to his broadcasting career, Nantz has authored a book, "Always By My Side", which was released in May 2008. The book recounts personal stories from his experiences in sports, including golf, and the values his father instilled in him.
Despite speculation about his retirement, Nantz has denied such plans. In 2020, he addressed rumours of a 2036 retirement date as "false news". Nantz expressed his desire to continue working as long as he feels sharp and healthy, stating that he takes it one year at a time.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Jim Nantz has not retired from golf. In 2025, he revealed his plans to retire as the Masters's lead broadcaster in 2036.
Jim Nantz is a longtime sports commentator and has been CBS's No. 1 voice for golf since 1985. He has anchored CBS' coverage of the Masters Tournament since 1989.
Nantz has been a passionate golfer since his high school days. He was co-captain and number one player on the golf team. He went on to play on the Cougars men's golf team at the University of Houston.
Yes, Nantz has stated that he would like to retire on his own terms rather than being forced to step down. He has also acknowledged that he may change his mind about his planned retirement date.
