In the world of golf broadcasting, there’s always a fine line to tread. Every shot, every swing, every player is under intense scrutiny, not just from the viewers but also from the broadcasters themselves. A case in point is the CBS Sports team, headed by Jim Nantz, which recently came under fire for allegedly overlooking golf legend Phil Mickelson during the 2023 Masters. Despite Mickelson’s noteworthy performance and subsequent runner-up finish, many fans accused CBS Sports of failing to give him his due screen time.
However, Nantz, in a candid interview with Sports Illustrated, refuted these accusations. He defended the network’s coverage, stating that their intent was never to discriminate against any player. According to Nantz, once Mickelson fell to fifth place, their focus naturally drifted towards other contenders, a strategy he believes was misconstrued as deliberate neglect.
Nantz’s ties with Mickelson go beyond the golf course, extending to a shared interest in fantasy football. This personal connection, Nantz insists, dispels any notion of intentional disregard on his or CBS’s part. “Phil has been a buddy of mine for a long time. There was no effort to conceal him or hide him at all,” he reiterated.
Adding another layer to this narrative is a recent revelation on the Vanity Index podcast. Chad Mumm, a regular on the show, shared an intriguing anecdote about his encounter with Nantz at the latter’s home. Mumm was treated to a round of golf in Nantz’s iconic backyard, which is a faithful reproduction of the par-3 seventh hole at Pebble Beach.
However, the highlight of Mumm’s recollection was the discovery of a rock adorned with plaques bearing the names of those who had achieved a hole-in-one at Nantz’s backyard course. Among the elite group was none other than Phil Mickelson. In 2019, while others were prepping for the RBC Canadian Open, Mickelson was practicing at Nantz’s course, resulting in a hole-in-one and a permanent spot on Nantz’s ‘rock of fame.’
This personal anecdote not only casts doubt on the allegations against Nantz but also offers a peek into the deep-rooted camaraderie between Nantz and Mickelson.
In another exciting development, Nantz, who recently moved to Nashville in 2024, has taken his backyard golf innovation to a new level. His latest creation is a replica of the 13th hole at Augusta National. Collaborating with architect Shane Whitcomb, Nantz has put painstaking attention into every detail, including 15 magnolia trees, a Masters leaderboard, and an assortment of Augusta National memorabilia.
This new backyard setup is not just a testament to Nantz’s love for golf but also a symbol of the enduring relationships he’s built with golfing legends. The question now is, when can we expect Mickelson to christen this new course with another hole-in-one? Only time will tell. Nonetheless, it’s clear that the bond between Nantz and Mickelson is much stronger than any criticism or controversy.
