Why Is Jim Nantz Not Broadcasting Golf Today?

Golf fans watching the Rocket Classic on CBS today may have noticed one familiar voice was missing. Jim Nantz, who is normally connected with some of the biggest golf broadcasts, was not handling the main commentary from Detroit. Because of this, many viewers started wondering if he is sick, retired, or having some issue with CBS.

But there is no official news saying Jim Nantz is unwell or leaving the network. His absence looks more like a normal broadcasting decision from CBS, rather than anything serious happening behind the scene.

The 2026 Rocket Classic was played at Detroit Golf Club from July 30 through August 2. CBS carried the final-round coverage on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET, while Golf Channel handled the earlier portion of the round.

Instead of Nantz, Andrew Catalon was used as the play-by-play announcer for the CBS coverage. Catalon is not a new replacement brought suddenly. He is already part of the Golf on CBS team and regularly works as the alternate 18th-hole host when Nantz is not assigned for a tournament. Catalon was also heard signing off the Rocket Classic broadcast from Detroit.

Jim Nantz is the lead golf voice of CBS, but it does not mean he will call every single tournament shown on the network. CBS has a large golf schedule, and the announcers are sometimes rotated depending on the event. Nantz normally gets the biggest assignments, including the Masters, PGA Championship and other important PGA Tour weekends.

The Rocket Classic is part of the regular PGA Tour schedule, so CBS choosing Catalon for this event is not very unusual. Similar thing has happened before also, where Nantz takes selected weekends off and another CBS announcer handles the main tower.

There is also no announcement that Nantz has retired from golf broadcasting. CBS listed him as the anchor of its golf coverage for the 2026 season, working alongside Trevor Immelman, Frank Nobilo, Colt Knost and the other members of its team.

So for fans who were worried, it does not look like there is any big problem. Jim Nantz was simply not assigned to call the Rocket Classic today, while Andrew Catalon was given the lead role. Unless CBS gives another explanation later, this appears to be only a regular change in the broadcast lineup.

Nantz should be back for other major CBS golf events. His calm voice and famous “Hello, friends” opening is still very much part of the network’s golf coverage, just not heard in every tournament during the long season.