Voice of the ages
Golf commentary legend Peter Alliss dies at age of 89
FOOTBALL had Brian Moore, cricket had Richie Benaud, motor racing had Murray Walker . . . and golf had Peter Alliss.
Icons of the commentary box, their voices are forever matched with some of the greatest moments in sport – explaining, il luminating and enhancing the games they loved for millions of viewers.
And Alliss – who has died aged 89 – was for decades at the top of his game as the voice of golf in the UK.
Both in the pre-Sky era – when the BBC dominated coverage – and since, his voice was the soothing backdrop to nail-biting on-course play.
For such a master of his craft, it was perhaps fitting that Alliss’s last gig, a month before he died, was commentating on the Masters – even if it was from his home in Hindhead, Surrey.
It was the first time in 54 years he had not crossed the Atlantic to attend the event at Augusta National.
John Cleese yesterday led tributes saying he possessed the “most sane and comforting” tones he had heard.
“I always thought that I could cope with the ending of the world if only Peter was commentating on it.”
BBC news host Simon McCoy said Alliss was “not just the voice of golf. THE voice for a generation”.
He added: “We shall miss wonderful dry wit and charm.”
And BBC colleague Gary Linker said he was “deeply saddened” by the that
death of the “wonderfully witty and truly brilliant commentator.” Born in 1931 in Berlin, where his father was a golf pro, Alliss left school at 14 and devoted himself to golf. Within a year he was in the England boys team.
Between 1954 and 1969, he won 21 pro tournaments – including three British PGA Championships and had five top-ten finishes at the Open.
On top of that, he and his dad, Percy, became the first father-son duo to compete in the Ryder Cup.
But it was for his deft touch with a microphone, rather than a golf club, for which he will be remembered.
Alliss was first asked to commentate – on a tournament in which he was also playing – in 1961.
He was made lead golf commentator in 1978 after retiring as a player.
Fans loved his whimsical musings, his dead-pan style, his dulcet tones and his humour. Always self-deprecating, he even made a joke of his struggles with putting, fitting his cars with the personal plate “PUT 3”.
BBC Sport boss Barbara Slater said the twice-married father of six was “one of the greatest broadcasters of his generation”.
She added: “Peter was the voice of golf. He was a master of his craft with a unique ability to capture a moment with a magical turn of phrase.”
Examples are countless. After Tiger Woods’ awful third-round showing at the 2002 Open, Alliss mused: “It’s like turning up to hear Pavarotti sing and finding out he has laryngitis.”
And when Jean van de Velde took off his shoes to wade into the water on the 18th hole as the 1999 Open slipped from his grasp, Alliss captured the Frenchman’s painful-to-watch psychological disintegration.
He asked: “What on earth are you doing? He’s gone ga-ga.
“To attempt to hit the ball out of there is pure madness.”
Occasionally, his comments strayed into controversy. In 2015 he said Open winner Zach Johnson’s wife could get a new kitchen with his winnings. Next year he sparked another sexism row after he opposed
GREEN LIGHT Alliss smiles with BBC pal Hazel Irvine at St Andrews female membership of Muirfield golf club, saying that if women wanted to join they could marry a member.
Announcing Alliss’s “unexpected but peaceful death”, yesterday his family said: “It’s with great sadness we announce the passing of golfing and broadcast legend Peter Alliss.
“Peter was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.”
He wed second wife, Jackie, in 1969 and had four children (Simon, Henry, Sara and Victoria, who died at the age of nine). Peter had a son and daughter (Gary and Carol) with first wife Joan.
PUPPY LOVE With his 2nd wife Jackie in 2016
CLUBBING IT Hertford, 1971