Although Jim Nantz was not present in person for CBS Sports’ 2025 PGA Tour coverage this week, his influence was unmistakable. While he was in Kansas City preparing for the Chiefs’ AFC Championship clash against the Buffalo Bills, a fun video was shared on the Golf on CBS X account featuring various golfers and CBS broadcast team members attempting to mimic Nantz’s iconic “Hello, friends” introduction:
Hello Friends, it’s so good to be back ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/d0DNLRi50G
— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) January 25, 2025
This marks Nantz’s 40th year calling golf on CBS, adding to his impressive list of career milestones, including calling his 500th NFL game two weeks ago, being honored by the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame last May, and calling his 32nd and final Final Four in 2023. “Hello, friends” has undoubtedly become one of the most recognized catchphrases in sports broadcasting. As Nantz explained last year on the 22nd anniversary of its debut, it serves as a tribute to his late father:
This tradition lives on in memory of Nantz’s father ❤️ #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/V8vi5JMNw6
— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) May 18, 2024
“I’ve been asked about it a lot; ‘Why do you say it?’ And it’s simply for one reason. It was a connection phrase with my ailing father, who had Alzheimer’s and struggled for 13 years before succumbing in 2008. But in 2002, just days before I headed to Hazeltine (National Golf Club) for the PGA Championship, I sat next to my father and told him that this weekend, I’m gonna say something when I come on the air. I’m gonna look into the camera, Dad, and I’m gonna say, ‘Hello, friends, Jim Nantz here.’ My dad’s name is Jim Nantz. And I wanted to give him something on the air that let him know that I was channeling him at that moment. I thought I would only do it once, but after that day’s show on the Saturday show at the 2002 PGA, I had a few people say, ‘I heard you say hello, friends; what was that all about?’ And I told them the backstory, and I was told, ‘You should keep doing that; that sounds like you.’ So, I continued to do it, not knowing that people would pick up on it.”
Many in the golf community have certainly embraced it, reflecting the phrase’s pervasive presence. This tribute to Nantz was a fitting way to kick off CBS’ golf season, even in his absence.
