After years of ‘Uncle Verne,' Frank Nobilo takes over at Masters' iconic 16th hole
The No. 16 hole at the Masters will have a new sound this year, as broadcaster and former PGA Tour member Frank Nobilo is calling Redbud for the first time.
Nobilo brings his New Zealand accent to the famous par-3 after 10 years on the call at Amen Corner (Holes 11, 12 and 13), taking over the role previously held by iconic broadcaster Verne Lundquist.
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Lundquist retired last year after his 40th year at Augusta National. Over four decades, he delivered memorable calls like his famous 'Yes, sir!' when Jack Nicklaus birdied the par-4 17th en route to winning his sixth green jacket and a spirited call following Tiger Woods' chip at the 16th in 2005.
'Oh my goodness,' Lundquist exclaimed. 'Oh wow! In your life, have you ever seen anything like that?'
While following up a legend like Lundquist is always a challenge, CBS Sports lead golf producer Sellers Shy said Nobilo has 'earned the right to be on that hole.'
'Frank is well respected not only by the players as a player but also by the players as a broadcaster,' Shy added. 'It just was an easy fit. It will be a seamless transition.'
CBS Sports president David Berson echoed the excitement regarding Nobilo's new role.
'Frank has been a part of our team for over a decade. He's an incredible analyst, a huge part of our team,' he said. 'I'm thrilled that he gets to be a much more integral part of the latter portion of our coverage now. He deserves it.'
Nobilo, 64, entered the broadcast industry in 2003 as part of the Golf Channel's studio coverage after retiring from tournament golf. He played a stint on the European Tour, picking up seven event wins before joining the PGA in 1997. His best results in major championships include a tie for fourth at the 1996 Masters, a tie for eighth at that year's PGA Championship and a tie for ninth at the 1994 U.S. Open. His lone victory on the PGA Tour came during his rookie season, when he won the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic (now known as the Wyndham Championship).
The Kiwi golfer also played in the first three Presidents Cups in 1994, '96 and '98. He served as his assistant captain for the 2009 Presidents Cup alongside captain Greg Norman.
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