INTERVIEW: Andrew Cotter has become the Voice of Golf – and rugby, tennis and the Olympics

Describing Scotland’s first Six Nations victory in Paris for 22 years.

Calling home the winners of this year’s men’s and women’s Boat Races.

And this evening setting the scene as golf’s Green Jacket is bestowed upon the Masters Champion.

If variety is the spice of life, then Andrew Cotter has struck the commentary jackpot with a diary filled with special events.

His soft Scottish tones are becoming the soundtrack of BBC Sport. Whatever the occasion, Cotter is able to bring them to life.

But it’s the ease of which he can switch from one sport to another that is most striking.

Back in the day, the Beeb would have Bill McLaren for rugby, Peter Alliss for golf, Dan Maskell for Wimbledon and David Coleman at the Olympics.

These days, Cotter is turning his hand to them all.

A fortnight ago, excitement was at fever pitch when a last-gasp try from Duhan van der Merwe brought the curtain down on the Six Nations with Scotland defeating France on their own patch.

Then Cotter was tapping into nearly 200 years of rowing history as Oxford and Cambridge left the Thames and raced against each other on the River Great Ouse.

Now, from the confines of a studio in Salford, he will be describing the drama unfolding on the back nine of Masters Sunday, one of the most-special days in the golfing calendar.

“All your information for the different events has to be compartmentalised,” the Troon native told The Sunday Post.

“It’s like cramming for an exam. You learn it and then you discard it.

“This time of year is always very busy. The three events are all really different, but fascinating in their own way.

“It’s usually made better by travelling to them, but those are the times we are in and, for the moment, it’s passport to Salford!”

In an era when fans and TV viewers want more information than ever, and there is saturation coverage of most sports, staying abreast of one is challenging enough.

But Cotter insists that the eclectic mix he has brings the best out of his work.

And it should certainly help ahead of a summer that will take in Wimbledon, The Open Championship and the athletics at the Tokyo Olympics.

“It’s the fun of the job,” he insists. “I wouldn’t like to do just one sport. You could go stale covering the same sport.

“At the same time as commentating and watching rugby, you’re keeping an eye on what is going on in the golf scene and vice versa.

“I was always keen on playing and watching sports when I was younger. For me, playing sport is the greatest feeling in the world.

“And I got used to watching so many – golf, tennis, athletics, rugby – when you could see them all on the same channel.”

While there is disappointment that he isn’t in Georgia, there is a natural love of The Masters.

With a limited number of patrons allowed on the course again and an April finish, there is a familiar feeling for everyone in golf.

“It was good The Masters happened in November but it was one to get through really,” said Cotter.

“It fell a bit flat. But now it’s back in its rightful place.

“Golf has maybe missed fans a bit less than other sports, like the Six Nations for example, as that rides off the back of an atmosphere.

“But you need them for the Sunday of a Major.

“Every hole at Augusta is almost a mini stadium in itself.

“The Masters is such a magnificent tournament.

“I grew up watching those years of British and European success – guys like Sandy Lyle, Sir Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam – and those memories are lodged in my mind.

“So when I first went to Augusta in 2002, it was so strange to be there for the first time.

“It’s this magical place.

“The holes remain the same, but the clubhouse, the practice ground, the Media Centre – everything changes around them.”