AUGUSTA, Ga. — There's a comforting sameness to Augusta National, a feeling that you could walk on its grounds in 1984 or 2024 or 2084 and still feel the spirit and spirit of the place. The pines that have stood for decades around the path will stand for decades to come.
So when the Augusta tradition ends, it's like one of those pine trees is falling down. There will be a quick and smooth replacement, but it will never be the same.
Vern Lundquist called his first Masters in 1983. He holed out his final holes at Augusta National on Sunday night, ending a remarkable career that marked many of the sport's finest moments. You know the legendary ones – “Yes sir!” And “In your life?” — but what made Uncle Vern so special was the way he delivered every line with warm grace.
Verne – and it's not just Lundquist – has the comforting voice of his uncle, a man who can spin stories for hours on end, the kind of stories you want to write down and remember until you can tell them yourself, and much worse. Listen closely, and you can hear a bit of a devilish edge in there too, like an uncle who will look around to make sure sensitive ears are out of the room before telling the kind of story you want. truly want to remember.
That warmth has made him a comforting presence longer than most of the 2024 Masters field. That means he's been one of the voices of the Masters for entire generations of players, sponsors and viewers. His voice has been a constant, ever since kids watch the Masters with their parents, grow up to be Masters fans themselves, and then introduce their kids to the tournament.
Every year on the Tuesday of Masters week, Lundquist would commandeer a CBS golf cart and take a slow drive around the course, making a reverse round of 18. This is a great way to see Augusta National, but it's also a great way to live your life. – Take a moment every now and then to appreciate what is familiar. When you go back to the beginning, you may have a new perspective on everything.
And on Sunday, Tiger Woods took a moment from his round to shake hands with Vern, a sign of the absolute respect that even golf's greatest players have for the man. Later, as Scotty Scheffler walked off the 16th green toward his date with Masters history, Jim Nantz thanked Vern for his decades of service. “It was an honor and a privilege,” Vern said, his voice cracking. He was overwhelmed by the weight of emotion, and he wasn't the only one.
As long as there is a master's degree, Vern's calling will continue. But it's not the same, and that won't actually happen until 2025. And starting next year, the Masters will have a different voice on the 16th hole. Whoever this person is, they will do a good job; Masters has a way of inspiring everyone to give their best. But they won't be Uncle Vern. They certainly wouldn't even try.
Vern likes to quote a classic phrase, “Thanks for the memories,” and he's been using it a lot lately. It's characteristic humility from a man who knows how fortunate he has been to have a front seat for decades of the sport's history. But here's the truth: As much as he enjoyed the memories, he created millions more.
“Student. Incurable problem solver. Amateur baconaholic. Introvert. Infuriatingly humble music fanatic.”