Hazel quits as the voice of golf ... to be replaced by fellow Scot Eilidh
SHE’S been a regular sight at the Augusta National Golf Club in the US for 2 years.
But Hazel Irvine, 1, will step down as lead BBC golf anchor after presenting this year’s Masters alongside veteran Peter Alliss.
Another Scot, Eilidh Barbour, will succeed the mother-of-one, who will continue to front snooker and other major sporting events.
Miss Irvine, from St Andrews, Fife, said: ‘After much thought, I have decided that in what is my 30th year in broadcast sport, I want to realign my on-air commitments around the changing needs of my family.
‘I am delighted a fellow Scot, Eilidh Barbour, will be given this chance. I’m sure that she will enjoy it as much as I have.’
Miss Irvine started as a production assistant with Radio Clyde in 1986, moving to STV a year later as a sports reporter. She joined BBC Scotland in August 1990 as presenter of its Friday night show Sportscene.
Miss Barbour, 34, from Dunkeld, Perthshire, tweeted: ‘Hazel is the standard I aspire to emulate… To follow her is a dream come true.’
She will front the BBC’s BMW PGA Championship coverage in May.