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Jim Nantz calls Rory McIlroy's historic 2026 Masters win
TL;DR
Jim Nantz celebrated his 41st year calling the Masters by announcing Rory McIlroy's historic victory, marking McIlroy as a rare repeat winner at Augusta. This win is notable as it is Nantz's first time calling a repeat champion in 24 years.
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In a tournament that bills itself as "a tradition unlike any other," the Masters and legendary commentator Jim Nantz are synonymous with each other.
On Sunday, he capped off his record-breaking 41st year in the booth at Augusta National by calling another historic milestone, one that he hasn't in 24 years:
"Rory is a rare repeat winner at Augusta," Nantz said as Rory McIlroy looked up to the sky in relief and stretched his arms out after the 18th hole to join one of the most exclusive clubs in the sport.
McIlroy's second consecutive green jacket might have been harder fought than his first. With a six-stroke lead through the first 36 holes, it looked like his coronation was already well underway. But a rough third round on Saturday saw that lead disappear as Cameron Young caught up to him. McIlroy's struggles continued into the final round as a three-putt double bogey on the fourth hole put him two shots back of Young.
Justin Rose had five birdies in the first nine to take a two-shot lead of his own, but McIlroy came roaring back with birdies on holes No. 7 and No. 8 to tie it back up, and retook the lead after a pair of bogeys from Rose on the 11th and 12th holes.
McIlroy also held off a late rally from world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler to finish alone atop the leaderboard.
McIlroy is the first player to win back-to-back Masters since Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002.
Jim Nantz Masters call
Nantz has been the voice of the Masters for a record 41 years, surpassing his former CBS college Verne Lundquist, and he'll stay in the booth for the foreseeable future. He recently told Scottish golf magazine Bunkered that he plans to retire after the 100th Masters in 2036, which would be his 51st year on the call at Augusta National.
He did, however, add a qualifier in that his health would need to hold up and that both CBS and the Masters would have to want him back for the next decade in the first place.
"But if all the stars aligned, right now, it feels like a pretty good exit point," Nantz told Bunkered. "April 14, 2036. That is my scheduled retirement date. It would be a perfect place to walk out."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jim Nantz calls Rory's McIlroy's Masters 2026 win
Q&A
What historic milestone did Rory McIlroy achieve at the 2026 Masters?
Rory McIlroy became a rare repeat winner at the Masters, joining an exclusive group of champions.
How many years has Jim Nantz been calling the Masters Tournament?
Jim Nantz has been calling the Masters Tournament for a record-breaking 41 years.
When was the last time Jim Nantz called a repeat champion at the Masters?
Jim Nantz last called a repeat champion at the Masters 24 years ago.
