“I will treasure that forever”: An emotional Verne Lundquist talks about the final Tiger Woods conversation at Masters 2024
Tiger Woods shared a touching moment with the iconic broadcaster Verne Lundquist beside the 16th hole in the final round of the Augusta National. He said that he would treasure the moment forever.
At the Augusta National Major 2024, Lundquist ended his four-decade tenure behind the mic. He has been the voice of some of the tournament's most memorable moments, including his legendary "in your life" call after Tiger Woods pitched in from the back of the 16th hole at the 2005 Masters.
After 19 years, the two adored a poignant moment on the same hole when Tiger Woods came for his round on Sunday and shook Verne's hand, wishing him well in retirement.
“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,” Lundquist said at The Steam Room podcast.
“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, said Lundquistat The Steam Room podcast.
"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.” said Lundquist.
Brief chat between Verne Lundquist and Tiger Woods
The American appeared on The Steam Room podcast and discussed the chat.
“The thing I most treasure about it,” Lundquist continued. “He went over and teed off at 17, I was still standing under the tree. And as he walked down the 17th fairway, he just looked over and gave me a thumbs up. I will treasure that forever."
Before the tournament, Tiger Woods paid tribute to Lundquist, including the memorable call.
He replied:
"Yeah, I've heard that call a few times. He has an incredible capacity to draw the listener in and depict a subject in a way that is emotive."
“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.” said Tiger Woods as quoted by golfmonthly.com
Masters is going to miss Verne Lundquist for sure.