Veteran Broadcaster Mike Tirico Steps Away from Masters Radio Coverage
An experienced broadcaster will not be commentating on the Masters at Augusta National this year, marking a significant change in the tournament's radio coverage. Mike Tirico has stepped away from his radio duties for the prestigious golf event following a particularly busy period for the respected broadcaster.
Nearly Two Decades of Masters Involvement
Tirico, who voices the NFL, NBA and Olympics for NBC, has enjoyed a lengthy association with Augusta National spanning almost 20 years. The 59-year-old anchored ESPN's coverage before his switch to NBC in 2016, and secured a route back to the season's opening major in 2022 as the play-by-play commentator for SiriusXM radio coverage.
Following a demanding schedule this year, which saw him call the Super Bowl, front the network's debut year of its new NBA contract and anchor the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics coverage, Tirico has created a break in his diary by taking a year away from the Masters.
Taylor Zarzour Steps Into Lead Role
Taylor Zarzour will spearhead the radio coverage in Tirico's absence. Zarzour serves as the play-by-play commentator for the Tennessee Titans and has been the second announcer for the Masters' radio coverage in recent years, making him a natural successor for this year's tournament.
Speaking to The Tennesseean, Zarzour confirmed that Tirico plans to return to Augusta National in 2027, suggesting this is a temporary arrangement rather than a permanent departure. "Mike decided this year because he did the Super Bowl and the Olympics, and he's been so busy with the NBA, to take the year off, and they asked me to do it instead," Zarzour explained.
The Moment of Decision
Even after several decades on the microphone covering some of the biggest sporting events in the world, Tirico doesn't often opt for a more relaxed schedule. Zarzour recalled the moment he took a call from Tirico, who informed him he would be skipping this year's trip to Augusta, where the tournament gets underway on April 9.
"Mike called me from the Super Bowl and said, 'I know I've never said no to anything, but this is the only weekend I am going to have off,'" Zarzour revealed. "And he was like, 'It's your turn. You need to do this.' I said, 'You better be coming back,' and he said he had every intention of coming back."
Zarzour's Perspective on the Opportunity
Zarzour is embracing the chance to lead the commentary, yet has no issue taking a back seat to Tirico when he returns. The experience of working alongside him and CBS frontman Jim Nantz has helped Zarzour sharpen his skills and prepared him for further opportunities in sports broadcasting.
"It's incredible getting to work with Mike. He is such a great teammate, and I have learned so much from working with him," Zarzour added. "And Jim has been the same way. We work closely with the TV guys. I'm going to miss Mike because he's just the best there is, and he's helped me so much over the years."
The broadcaster emphasized his flexibility regarding the arrangement, stating: "So if it's just this year, great. If it's the next 40 years, great." This temporary change in the Masters radio commentary team represents a notable shift in the tournament's broadcast landscape while maintaining continuity through Zarzour's previous experience with the coverage.
