John Cleese and Gary Lineker lead tributes to 'voice of golf' legend Peter Alliss
In the pre-Sky era – when the BBC dominated coverage – and since, the commentator's voice was the soothing backdrop to nail-biting on-course action
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Football had Brian Moore, cricket had Richie Benaud, motor racing had Murray Walker and golf had Peter Alliss.
There are, of course, numerous other commentating greats and every fan has their particular favourites.
But they all have one thing in common – each defined, illuminated and greatly enhanced the sports they loved for millions of fans.
Alliss, who has died aged 89, was for decades the voice of golf in the UK.
In the pre-Sky era – when the BBC dominated coverage – and since, his voice was the soothing backdrop to nail-biting on-course action.
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 Surrey home.
It was the first time in 54 years he had not crossed the Atlantic to attend the event in Augusta.
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 that wonderful dry wit and charm.”
And BBC colleague Gary Lineker said he was “deeply saddened” by the death of the “wonderfully witty and truly brilliant commentator.”
Alliss was born in 1931, in Berlin, where his father was the pro at the flash Wannsee club.
Having left school aged 14 he devoted himself to golf, representing for the England boys team in 1946.
No mean player, between 1954 and 1969, he won 21 professional tournaments – including three British PGA Championships and had five top-ten finishes at the Open Championship.
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 dulcett tones and his humour.
Always self-deprecating, he even made a joke of his struggles with putting, fitting his cars with the personal number plate “3 PUT”.
BBC Sport boss Barbara Slater said the twice-married father of five 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 no one could match.”
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.”
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’s captured the pain of 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.” Alliss’s career was not without controversy. In 2015 he was was criticised for saying Open winner Zach Johnson’s wife could get a new kitchen with his winnings.
And the following year he sparked another sexism row after he opposed 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”, his family said in a statement: “It’s with great sadness we announce the passing of golfing and broacast legend Peter Alliss.
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