Augusta, GA

Verne Lundquist announces the 2024 Masters will be his last behind the microphone on CBS

Published

2 years ago

February 17, 2024

Verne Lundquist announces the 2024 Masters will be his last behind the microphone on CBS

Verne Lundquist called his final college football game at the 2016 SEC Championship, but the legendary broadcaster couldn’t give up one of his favorite plum jobs, coming out of retirement once a year to partake in the Masters.

Lundquist, now 83, hinted in previous years that he might stop his annual trek to Augusta National after his 40th year of broadcasting the event, and on Wednesday he made it official — the 2024 Masters will be his last behind the microphone.

Lundquist, whose famous calls at the Masters include Jack Nicklaus’ birdie putt on 17 – “Yes, Sir!” – in 1986 that gave him the lead and Tiger Woods’ dramatic chip-in birdie on the 16th hole – “In your life!”– in 2005, admittedly doesn’t get around like he used to. The national broadcaster has a home in picturesque Steamboat Springs, Colorado, while he and his wife, Nancy, purchased a small condo in Austin, where he attended high school and started his illustrious career.

During a podcast done in 2022 with the Ringer, Lundquist said he had a plan in place for the finale after talking with CBS Sports executives.

“Sean (McManus, CBS Sports Chairman) and I had a recent talk about my work at Augusta,” Lundquist said at the time. “But in all likelihood, number 40 will likely be my last. Just because it will be time. I think that’s the plan.”

Lundquist’s call as the Dallas Cowboys radio voice of Jackie Smith’s drop in Super Bowl XIII remains one of his most recognizable. And he was the voice of SEC football on CBS as well as a yearly contributor during the NCAA Tournament for decades. He has made occasional cameos outside of golf in recent years, like one before Georgia and Alabama kicked off in the 2023 SEC championship game.

More: Augusta Regional Airport accepting more Delta flights for flood of Masters Week visitors

But when it comes to golf, little tops Lundquist’s call of Nicklaus’ putt at the 17th hole of the final round of the 1986 Masters. We all know the call – “Maybe … Yes, sir!” – that would mark Nicklaus’ final push in a stunning Masters win at the age of 46.

Of course, Lundquist was also the TV announcer for the golf classic “Happy Gilmore,” the Adam Sandler movie about a failed hockey player who takes his talents to the golf course in order to save his grandmother’s house. The comedy has undeniably become a part of golf’s culture.

The Masters will be held at Augusta National Golf Club from April 11-14.

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Augusta, GA

Law enforcement converges on home in west Augusta

Published

7 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Law enforcement converges on home in west Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – There was a large law enforcement presence Thursday morning at a home in west Augusta near Fort Gordon.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force were in the area attempting to find a suspect, according to deputies.

Witnesses said around 11:25 a.m. that officers had been surrounding a home at Harper-Franklin Avenue and Covington Court.

That’s in a neighborhood of mostly two-story brick-fronted homes built in the past three or four years just east of Jimmie Dyess Parkway and a couple of blocks north of Gordon Highway.

As noon approached, law enforcement had left.

But a Facebook post from earlier did show a large presence,including marked and unmarked cars, and officers all around the house. A witness said police dogs were on the scene, as well.

News 12 has reached out to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office for information.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta mayoral candidate holds town hall as election season begins

Published

19 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Augusta mayoral candidate holds town hall as election season begins

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Steven Kendrick held a town hall on Wednesday at the Henry Brigham Community Center as he prepares to challenge Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson.

Kendrick, who serves as chief deputy tax commissioner for Richmond County, previously ran against Johnson in 2022. The town hall was part of Kendrick’s campaign tour as he seeks to unseat the incumbent mayor.

“Some of the people felt as though we really needed to dig a little deeper and we dug a little deeper,” Kendrick said after the meeting. “But that’s how you gain understanding, where everybody’s not going to agree about everything. Some of them we didn’t agree on. I certainly enjoyed the interaction. I learned some things, and I hope they learned some things as well.”

Multiple Commission seats up for election

The mayoral race is not the only contest facing Richmond County voters. Several Augusta Commission seats are up for election across multiple districts.

District 8 will have a new commissioner because Commissioner Brandon Garrett is term-limited and cannot run again. Michael Cioffi and Evett Williams have filed to run for the District 8 seat.

Districts 2, 4, 6 and 10 are also up for election. Stacy Pulliam currently serves in District 2.

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Augusta, GA

2026 is off to a deadly start, but what’s ahead for Augusta?

Published

1 day ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

2026 is off to a deadly start, but what’s ahead for Augusta?

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Richmond County deputies are investigating their first homicide of 2026, which occurred early Monday morning on Hines Street just off Laney Walker Boulevard.

The victim was 21-year-old Thaddeus Kirkland. He was found bleeding on scene around 2 a.m. and died a short time later.

Suspect wanted for questioning

Deputies are seeking 24-year-old Bruce Wesby for questioning in connection to the incident. Wesby is known to frequent the Waynesboro area. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff’s office.

Crime data shows progress in 2025

The first homicide of 2026 happened five days into the new year, two days sooner than the first homicide of 2025.

According to the sheriff’s office data, violent crime decreased significantly in 2025 under Sheriff Eugene Brantley’s leadership. Homicides dropped 35% year-over-year from 2024 to 2025 to their lowest level since 2021.

Aggravated assaults also dropped 35% to their lowest mark since 2018. Armed robberies fell 36% year-over-year to their lowest mark since crime data for Richmond County was first recorded in 2011.

Law enforcement focused on high-risk areas, including downtown Augusta, to lower response times and keep people safe.

“What they really want is for their families that they’re raising in this area to have safe lives, just like the citizens of Augusta that vote them in,” said M. Steven Fishman, president of Sidney’s Department Store & Uniforms. “They want to be able to go to work, come home, and enjoy their lives with their children, knowing that they’re safe.”

As 2026 gets underway, the sheriff’s office is continuing upgrades for technology and equipment to continue its goal of reducing violent crime. The office sent a statement saying the progress is in large part due to the community and deputies working together.

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