Jim Nantz didn’t know he had won the 2023 Dave Marr award.
In the 13 years since 2005, CBS Sports’ golf voice has been a part, among other duties, of the Insperity Invitational Players Dinner, an annual tradition to honor golf legends from the PGA Tour Champions.
Nantz was surprised by tournament officials on Thursday night with this prestigious award, which is given every year for his contributions to the sport of golf and his passion.
“I am absolutely stunned. Nantz said, “I had no idea. I’m so honored.” His first appearance at the Masters in 1986 was his first. “Dave Marr is my first guest ever on a Houston radio station. Since then, I’ve lived and died by telling the stories about all of these great golfers. All of them I idolize. “I love this award, and I love Marr Family.”
Jack Nicklaus was one of Nantz’s idols who played a part in the surprise announcement. Nicklaus, Gary Player and Lee Trevino spoke of what Nantz means to the sport of golf.
“I met Jim for the first time in 1985, and then at Augusta in ’86. Jim has been my friend for many years. He has been honored many times, but I think it’s time he was recognized here tonight.
Nantz is the latest winner of the Dave Marr award, which was created in 1999. The award honors individuals who embody the qualities Marr embodied – sportsmanship and honesty. It also recognizes those who are passionate about golf and have done outstanding things on and off the course. Arnold Palmer, Miller Barber and Don January are among the recipients of the Dave Marr Award. Also included in this list are Fuzzy Zoeller (Lee Trevino), Barbara Nicklaus (Bernhard Langer), Tom Watson (Tom Watson), Fuzzy Zeller, Larry Nelson, Tom Watson(Fuzzy Zoeller), Curtis Strange(Lee Trevino), Bernhard Langer Tom Lehman, Johnny Miller, Larry Nelson, Fuzzy, Larry Nelson, Fuzzy, Fuzzy, Larry Nelson
