Verne Lundquist Lifts Lid On Emotional Masters Farewell With Tiger Woods

Legendary Golf Broadcaster Verne Lundquist Shares Poignant Interaction with Tiger Woods at 2024 Masters

 

After four decades behind the mic at the Augusta National Major, Verne Lundquist called time on his career at the 2024 tournament. Lundquist, known for his iconic calls and ability to capture the essence of the Masters, shared a touching moment with golf legend Tiger Woods during the final round.

 

During the 2005 Masters, Lundquist immortalized himself with his famous “in your life” call as Tiger Woods chipped in from the back of the 16th green. Now, 19 years later, the pair reunited on the same hole for a heartfelt exchange.

 

Woods, enduring a challenging round, stopped by during his play on Sunday to shake Lundquist’s hand and express his well wishes for retirement. The moment, captured by ESPN cameras, became one of the feel-good highlights of the tournament.

 

Reflecting on the encounter on an edition of The Steam Room podcast, Lundquist shared his perspective: “I ventured down to 16 and he was playing 14 at the time and he was having a horrible day. Five over and wound up dead last in the tournament. But even though he was five over, he walked off the green at 16 and as he approached, I just said, ‘Tiger, thank you.’ He reached over and shook my hand and we chatted.”

 

Lundquist continued, recalling the significance of the moment: “In all candor, I can’t remember what we said, except I thanked him for the kind words that he had, and he said, ‘We’re gonna be tied at the hip forever’ because of that shot and because of what I said.”

 

However, it was a subtle gesture from Woods that truly resonated with Lundquist. As Woods teed off at the 17th hole, Lundquist stood under a tree. Woods, walking down the fairway, looked over and gave Lundquist a thumbs up. It was a simple yet profound gesture that Lundquist says he will treasure forever.

 

Speaking prior to the tournament, Woods himself paid tribute to Lundquist’s career, including that iconic call: “Yeah, I’ve heard that call a couple times. 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.”

 

Woods continued, highlighting the impact Lundquist had on his career: “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.”