Voice of LIV Golf claims Masters commentator tarnished his career at Augusta

It appears that the ongoing frosty relations within the golfing community are stretching to the commentary booth as LIV Golf’s commentator called out his rival for his remarks

The standoff between golf’s warring factions appears to have spread into the commentary booth as the voice of LIV Golf, Jerry Foltz, criticised veteran rival Jim Nantz for his remarks at the Masters.

Anchoring CBS’ coverage at Augusta National on the mic for a 35th year straight, 64-year-old sportscaster Nantz was in position as Scottie Schleffer reigned victorious earlier this month. A previous winner in 2022, the man from New Jersey added the Masters crown to his triumphs at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players Championship already this year.

Calling the historic moment as the world No. 1 closed in on glory at the Georgia course, Foltz was convinced that the commentator Nantz had showed favour for PGA Tour golfers as proceedings came to a close.

As Schleffer approached the 16th tee, with Ludvig Aberg, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa and Tommy Fleetwood fighting it out for the green jacket, the commentator acknowledged: “The top five are all PGA Tour players.”

LIV’s Foltz was left angered by the sportscaster’s comment, however, as he accused the star of wading into the ongoing frictions between the rival circuits. Speaking on the Saudi tour’s Fairway to Heaven Podcast, he asserted: “It was sad to me to see what Jim Nantz did as the players walked to the 16th tee.

“A legendary broadcaster who’s going to probably go down as one of the best ever tarnished his own career with something as petty as pointing out that the top five on the leaderboard that they were showing were all PGA Tour players. The comments on social media unfortunately didn’t flatter Jim Nantz.

“The Masters is above that. I’ve always held Jim Nantz in a regard way above something that petty. It was not that long after that Jim Nantz narrated the most heartfelt farewell, if you will, to the retiring Sean McManus. Now, Sean McManus is the chairman of CBS Sports. This was his last Masters and it was something so near and dear to him.”

Foltz’s own comments will do little to thaw the icy relations between those on both sides of golf’s great debate currently. As things stand, LIV Golf, the PGA Tour and DP World Tour are yet to sign off on a long-mooted binding framework agreement over a merger – despite the stunning idea for a ceasefire. having been announced last summer.

The disgruntled commentator added: “Sean McManus’s Dad is one of the top two or three all time legendary network sportscasters and Jim McKay. You go Jim McKay, Vin Scully, Keith Jackson – and I’ve always thought that Jim Nantz was going to be amongst those people, but Jim Mackay would have never stooped to Jim Nantz doing what he did to try and point out his loyalty to the PGA Tour.

“It really put a dampener on the whole day after CBS and Sellers Shy did such a great job of presenting the Masters the way the Masters Tournament committee demands and wants it to be presented which is above all the fray and above all the politics. We come all the way down to three holes to go on Sunday and I’m just absolutely beside myself when he said that.”