There are some changes afoot in the Masters. No, this is not about whether Tiger Woods will play or not. We know he won’t. Instead, the iconic 3-par 16th hole at the Augusta National Golf Course gets a new voice making calls. The commentator getting replaced is the legendary Verne Lundquist, who has been the voice behind 16 for forty years. Lundquist had made some iconic calls over the years, including his most famous “In your life! Have you ever seen anything like that?!” call in 2005 after Tiger Woods’s iconic chip on the 16th.
Well-known Frank Nobilo will be taking the reins at the 16th this year. It was announced by CBS Sports President David Berson on Tuesday that Frank Nobilo will be the new person at the final stretch of the Augusta Tournament. “He deserves this opportunity…I’m thrilled that he gets to be a much more integral part of the latter part of our coverage,” Berson explained during a pre-tournament press call. Nobilo
Nobilo will be moving away from his usual spot on Amen Corner. CBS lead golf producer Sellers Shy added, “There’s no one more experienced,” when referring to Nobilo’s new role. Nobilo is widely experienced, having competed in various Tours around the world and winning 14 titles. This includes 1 PGA Tour title as well. The former New Zealand golfer has also featured in the Presidents Cup three times for the International Team, winning the 1998 edition. Another experienced member of the golf community, Brandel Chamblee, was quick to congratulate the broadcaster on his new role.
He took to X to share a three-word message that resonated with everyone who heard the news. “So well deserved.” Chamblee stated. He went on to add his wishes to the former New Zealand golfer, “Congrats to Frank. Look forward to his calls.”
So well deserved. Congrats to Frank. Look forward to his calls. https://t.co/IVqYV1iuKQ
— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) April 2, 2025
Chamblee and Nobilo are very close colleagues and even had some iconic moments together on television, including a spirited debate on Tiger Woods’s health in 2014. When Nobilo joined CBS in 2019 after working alongside Chamblee at Golf Channel, the emotions were running high. Chamblee and others gave a heartfelt tribute to Nobilo.
“Frank, 16 years I’ve been sitting next to you, I feel like I’ve argued more with you than my ex-wife, and I think I’m consoled by the fact that I don’t have to send you checks,” joked Chamblee at the time. Chamblee said that he’ll not only miss Nobilo’s boxing analogies, puns, and long, unfunny jokes, but also his analysis and “unbelievable versatility” and ability to take the players’ perspective. Frank was touched, as he said, “Brandel, Rich, I’ve had the utmost pleasure to sit alongside, argue, but more importantly enjoy the game just as much as you.”
Nobilo’s new role at the 16th hole means that someone will have to fill up for him. Who will it be?
New lineup for CBS for the Masters Tournament
Jim Nantz will be the lead play-by-play announcer while Trevor Immelman will ply his trade as a lead booth analyst. Their expert takes and analysis will be the key facet of the 2025 Masters Broadcast. Golf producer Sellers Shy believes that Nobilo’s new role provides a bit more balance to the broadcast setup, allowing for more inclusion of both Nantz and Immelman. “There’s now a real nice balance that I think everyone’s going to be very very happy with,” Shy said.
Amanda Balionis is also returning as co-host for CBS’s 2025 Masters coverage, joining Jim Nantz and more for exclusive Augusta National insights across TV and streaming service options.
What do you think of the new voice behind the 16th? Did CBS go in the right direction to replace one of the most iconic voices in golf?
The post Brandel Chamblee Weighs In as 3X Presidents Cup Player Replaces CBS Reporter Verne Lundquist for Augusta National Post appeared first on EssentiallySports.