• Loading stock data...
Sunday, December 1, 2024

NBC Has Void to Fill With Its Top Golf Analyst. It’s Trying Something Different

  • The U.S. Open will be broadcast on NBC in June.
  • NBC is tapping current PGA Tour pro Kevin Kisner for some analyst duties.
Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports

NBC Sports will bring a new approach to the world of golf broadcasting as it tries to pick a new No. 1 analyst before its two major championships next summer.

Kevin Kisner, a four-time winner on the PGA Tour, will enter the NBC Sports booth for two tournaments in early 2024, including the season-opening event in Maui during the first week of January. Kisner, 39, is still a full-time member of the PGA Tour, but he isn’t eligible for The Sentry and The WM Phoenix Open, the two $20 million signature events he will be calling on Golf Channel and on the main NBC broadcast network.

Golf analyst jobs have typically gone to former players who no longer compete full-time. Top CBS Sports golf analyst Trevor Immelman is 44, but the 2008 Masters champion began exploring broadcasting in the late 2010s as injuries plagued the latter half of his playing career. It’s unclear whether Kisner would be interested in joining NBC full-time.

Why There’s an Opening

Last month, NBC Sports parted ways with Paul Azinger, who held the network’s top golf job for five years. Several internal candidates are believed to be under consideration to replace Azinger, too. Sports Business Journal reported that Geoff Ogilvy, a former U.S. Open champion, is also being targeted, but that he could end up calling only a handful of events.

NBC will broadcast the Players Championship in March and, more importantly, the U.S. Open in June and the Open Championship in July. Finding a full-time top golf analyst before the latter two events is expected to be a priority for NBC, which is believed to pay close to $100 million annually for the two majors’ media rights, in addition to its part of the $680 million annual deal for PGA Tour rights, along with CBS Sports and ESPN.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NBA Passes on Thanksgiving Games, Eyes Black Friday Spotlight

The NBA hasn’t played on Thanksgiving since 2010.
Nov 24, 2011; College Station, TX, USA; General view of the line of scrimmage during a game between the Texas A&M Aggies and Texas Longhorns in the third quarter at Kyle Field.

High Stakes and Record Ticket Prices for Texas–Texas A&M

The get-in price for Saturday’s game is more than $500.
Juan Soto

Juan Soto Leads MLB’s Offseason Frenzy, Chasing $600M Deal

Soto reportedly has already received contract offers from five teams.

Lions Could Turn Tables by Eclipsing Cowboys Ratings on Thanksgiving

The Cowboys and Lions play again on Thanksgiving—in very different positions.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

Happy Thanksgiving From FOS Today

0:00

Featured Today

U.S. Investors Are Gunning for England’s Small Soccer Clubs

Is another Hollywood-like success story possible among the U.K.’s smallest clubs?
Nov 1, 2024; Boise, Idaho, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) leads the team onto the field prior to the first quarter against the San Diego State Aztecs at Albertsons Stadium.
November 29, 2024

Schools Are Scrambling to Prepare for the NCAA Revenue-Sharing Era

In the post–House v. NCAA world, “everyone’s kind of on their own.”
Nov 4, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Recording artist Taylor Swift arrives prior to a game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
November 29, 2024

The PWHL Could Be Inviting a Date With Taylor Swift’s Legal Team

The Toronto Sceptres may have opened a Pandora’s box of trademark issues.
November 23, 2024

Can an Elite Women’s Soccer School Survive the New College Sports Moneyball?

Santa Clara faces an uphill battle in the new college sports landscape.
Bluesky and Twitter

Why Bluesky Is Not a Serious Threat to Sports Twitter

Bluesky recently hit 23 million total users. That doesn’t touch X/Twitter.
Oct 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Thursday Night Football broadcasters Clarissa Thompson, Tony Gonzalez, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Andrew Whitworth and Richard Sherman at SoFi Stadium.
November 25, 2024

Amazon Finds NFL Silver Linings Despite Missing Out on Thanksgiving

The streamer is drawing its best NFL ratings yet.
May 1, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; From left: TNT analysts Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford, play-by-play announcer Kevin Harland and reporter Allie LaForce during game five of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena.
November 27, 2024

WBD Target of Investor Lawsuit Over Loss of NBA Rights

WBD sued the NBA in July after failing to retain broadcast rights.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
November 23, 2024

Reader Mailbag: Why Are NBA Ratings Down to Start the Season?

NBA viewership is down 28% on ESPN through the first four weeks.
November 22, 2024

DirecTV-Dish Deal Is Dead, Spelling More Trouble for Pay TV

Bondholder objections undo an agreement to create the largest U.S. pay-TV distributor.
A photo of Around the Horn's set
November 21, 2024

‘Around the Horn’ to End 23-Year ESPN Run in 2025

ESPN had reportedly been thinking of canceling the show since the summer.
November 21, 2024

NBA Legend Hubie Brown Stepping Away From ESPN at 91

Brown has been associated with the league for over 50 years.