When the best sports productions are discussed, CBS’s golf coverage merits being mentioned near the top of the list. From The Masters to the PGA Championship and other tour events, the network’s lineup of talent and the way they cover the sport is first class all the way. Golf announcers really don’t receive as much everyday attention as other sports, but the nature of the sport and the tranquility of the telecast means you develop a more intimate relationship with them. And with the longevity that many golf announcers have, there’s a familiarity and comfort level with some of those voices that isn’t easily achieved elsewhere. It’s one of the reasons why the golf universe erupted over Chris Berman’s US Open assignment at ESPN over the years.
One of the longest-tenured and well-respected golf announcers is hanging up the microphone. After 20 years, Peter Oosterhuis is calling it a day and retiring from the broadcasting industry and his duties at CBS and Golf Channel. Here’s the announcement from CBS:
After a 20-year career as a golf analyst for CBS Sports and Golf Channel, Peter Oosterhuis has announced his retirement from broadcasting.
“Golf has been a big part of my life ever since I was a little boy growing up in England and I thank CBS and Golf Channel for allowing me to continue in the sport after my playing days were over,” said Oosterhuis. “I feel it is the right time to step away to focus on things in life that I have always wanted to do.”
“Peter has been a valuable member of our golf team for almost 20 years and we wish him nothing but the best,” said Sean McManus. “We will miss his unique style and insightful analysis that he brought to each broadcast.”
Oosterhuis joined CBS Sports’ golf announce team full-time in 1998. He began his United States broadcasting career in 1995 with Golf Channel covering the first two events to ever air on the network. Oosterhuis competed for 11 years on the PGA Tour (1975-86). Before joining the PGA Tour he played worldwide on the European Tour, amassing more than 20 victories, including the 1973 British PGA Championship, the 1973 and 1974 French Open and the 1981 Canadian Open. Oosterhuis also played on six European Ryder Cup teams from 1971-81.
Oosterhuis’ role had been scaled back in the last few years throughout the tour calendar, but he was still a major presence at The Masters and PGA Championship. He’s been in the 17th tower at Augusta since 1997 and continued the tradition of the eloquent British voice playing a central role in the network’s coverage going back to the days of Ben Wright.
It’ll be interesting to see if CBS chooses to add a new voice to their Augusta coverage or moves ahead with the crew they already have. Ian Baker-Finch has been elevated as the #2 analyst at the network behind Nick Faldo and could either step into the 17th tower or stay at Amen Corner with a new voice at #17. CBS could promote someone like Andrew Catalon or Matt Gogel from their online Masters Live coverage to the main telecast to replace Oosterhuis.
Believe it or not, it will be the first change to the hole announcers at The Masters since 2007, when Baker-Finch replaced Bobby Clampett.
