• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Want a chance to win $250 and free FOS gear? Take our quick reader survey. Take the survey here

NBC Sports Drops Paul Azinger As Lead Golf Analyst

  • A marquee golf TV job opened up Sunday as NBC Sports dumped Paul Azinger as its lead analyst.
  • Several candidates will audition to be Dan Hicks’ co-host before the new PGA Tour season kicks into high gear, said sources.
Paul Azinger
KIM KLEMENT-USA TODAY Sports

One of sports media’s top golf TV jobs opened up Sunday as NBC Sports dropped Paul Azinger as its lead analyst.

The network will audition several possible lead analysts alongside host Dan Hicks before the new PGA Tour season kicks into high gear in January/February, sources told Front Office Sports.

Among the possible internal contenders at NBC are former Open Champion Justin Leonard, outspoken Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee, and Brad Faxon. 

Rising on-course reporter Smylie Kaufman could also get a bigger role, said sources.

“Historically, the lead analyst at the networks has always been a major champion,” said a source. “But I don’t know if they need that any more. NBC does have Justin Leonard — and they do like him. And he’s a major champion.”

The feeling inside and outside of NBC was that the 63-year-old Azinger (who won the 1993 PGA Championship) never lived up to his TV predecessor Johnny Miller. 

The straight-shooting Miller, a two-time major champion, earned a reputation as arguably the greatest golf analyst of all time during his NBC tenure from 1990 to 2019.

Over the years, Azinger had become one of the biggest announcer targets on social media since Jason Witten on “Monday Night Football.”

For instance, golf viewers ripped Azinger’s analysis during NBC’s coverage of the 2023 U.S. Open, according to Awful Announcing.

“Everything Azinger says gets proven wrong three seconds later,” complained one viewer on Twitter. 

“Can’t fire him fast enough,” added another NBC viewer.

On Monday, a roundtable of Golf Digest writers said Azinger appeared to be mailing it in with his commentary.

“He sounded unprepared to me. There’s a reason he was routinely a punching bag on Golf Twitter,” wrote Alex Myers. “Replacing a legend is never easy, but he didn’t do a good job. And rarely do so many fans agree on something.”

Outside NBC, we will see whether Sir Nick Faldo, former lead analyst for CBS Sports, would want to do a full-time TV gig again.

Azinger was also damaged by the rise of CBS Sports analyst Trevor Immelman. The 2008 Masters winner became CBS’s fifth lead analyst this year, succeeding Faldo. Unlike Azinger, he’s been a hit with viewers and the golf industry.

NBC declined to renew Azinger’s five-year contract, according to Doug Ferguson of the Associated Press, who broke the news. Over the last year, NBC also declined to renew the contracts of long-time analysts Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch. 

Azinger was preparing to call Tiger Woods’ return to competitive golf at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3.

Still, he seemed caught off guard by the decision. Before joining NBC, he previously worked as an analyst for ABC, ESPN, and Fox Sports.

“I have treasured working beside Dan Hicks and the other talented NBC broadcasters as well as lead producer Tommy Roy and all those behind the scenes,” he told the AP. 

“They are a remarkable team, and I will miss them tremendously. My thanks to them and the countless others who have supported me and helped me along the way during my work in television. I have faith in what the future holds for me, for NBC, and for the great game of golf.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Aug 25, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Close up view of the ball and club of Scott Scheffler during the first round of the TOUR Championship golf tournament.

From Third Tier to $1M: Michael Brennan’s Surprise PGA Tour Win

The 23-year-old won his first professional start on the PGA Tour.
Oct 24, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Paul Reed (7) celebrates with guard Cade Cunningham (2) after a play during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center.

‘On the Bench’ Analysts Aim to Give NBA Viewers Courtside Access

Austin Rivers and Robbie Hummel will deliver reports straight from the bench.

As the NFL, NBA, and NHL Go Global, The Masters Is Looking..

The tournament’s chairman touted new qualification measures.

YouTube Stars Help Bring Back Golf Channel’s ‘Big Break’

The show will return in 2026 after an 11-year hiatus.

Featured Today

September 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium

NFL Fall Meeting: 7 Big Topics Among Team Owners 

Media, facilities, and labor highlight some of the key areas of concern.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Isaiah West (32) runs the ball in the second half at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin
October 25, 2025

NIL Has Birthed a Third-Party Cottage Industry—and It’s a Mess

There’s no limit to how much players can make from NIL deals.
Christie's
October 21, 2025

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
YouTube/ Multiple streaming services appear on a Roku TV.

YouTube in Another Carriage Dispute, This Time With Disney

ESPN and ABC could be dropped from the No. 4 U.S. pay-TV distributor.
May 17, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Jasson Dominguez (24) shakes hands with New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) after the top of the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium.
October 23, 2025

Mets, Yankees, and the Nielsen Debate That Won’t Go Away

Weeks after the end of the MLB regular season, viewership issues remain.
Oct 21, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) keeps the ball away from Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) during the second half at Paycom Center
October 23, 2025

NBA’s NBC Return Draws 5.9M Viewers, Best Opener Since 2010

Thunder vs. Rockets peaked at 7.1 million viewers.
Sponsored

Why Alexis Ohanian Is Betting Big on Women’s Sports

Alexis Ohanian reflects on his evolution from Reddit cofounder to one of today’s most dynamic sports investors.
Brian Windhorst
October 23, 2025

Brian Windhorst Details Emergency Landing on Omaha–L.A. Flight

The pilots and flight attendants had a communication issue.
Candace Parker
October 22, 2025

Candace Parker Wants NFL-Style Coverage From NBA Media

Amazon will stream its first NBA doubleheader Friday.
Netflix
October 21, 2025

Netflix Staying on the Sidelines As TNT Sports Parent Seeks Buyer

The streaming giant shows little interest in acquisition possibilities.
Apr 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of an NBA basketball and backyard and NBA logo before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Toronto Raptors at the American Airlines Center.
October 17, 2025

NBA Tries to Solve Fragmentation Issue It Helped Create

A new “Tap to Watch” feature will direct fans to live games.