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Jim Nantz’s call of Rory McIlroy’s repeat Masters win fell so flat
TL;DR
Rory McIlroy achieved a rare back-to-back Masters win in 2026, joining an exclusive group of champions. However, Jim Nantz's commentary during the victory was criticized for being flat and lacking excitement.
Winning back-to-back Masters tournaments is a remarkable achievement in golf. There's a reason only four men have ever been able to do it. Rory McIlroy is the latest to join that oh-so-exclusive club after finishing on top at the 2026 Masters.
You'd think, given the moment, that legendary CBS announcer Jim Nantz would bring his absolute best stuff to the call of McIlroy's newest triumphant moment. You'd think that Nantz, one of the greatest American sports announcers ever, would have something terrific lined up for McIlroy's glory and the viewing audience at home. That is a baseline expectation for someone of Nantz's stature. Full stop.
Dearest readers, he did not. Nantz blew it. His call of McIlroy's victory sounded so robotic, so flat, so mailed-in that I'm actually pretty shocked we didn't hear something better:
Hey, listen, no one's perfect. Given what he's seen and called throughout his career, Nantz does deserve some grace for screwing this up. Even still, it kind of sucks to hear an all-time moment for one of the best golfers of his generation ultimately amount to very little flair from a broadcast perspective.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Jim Nantz ruined Rory McIlroy's repeat Masters win with terrible call
Q&A
Who are the only four golfers to win back-to-back Masters tournaments?
The only four golfers to win back-to-back Masters tournaments are Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy.
What year did Rory McIlroy win his second consecutive Masters title?
Rory McIlroy won his second consecutive Masters title in 2026.
Why was Jim Nantz's commentary during McIlroy's win criticized?
Jim Nantz's commentary was criticized for being robotic and lacking the excitement expected during such a significant moment in golf.
