Saturday December 9, 2023

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
Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

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
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jon Rahm
exclusive

LIV Golf’s Signing of Jon Rahm Further Complicates Partnership Negotiations

The world’s third-ranked golfer is joining LIV Golf’s roster.
Jon Rahm tees off on the 15th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship in Rochester, New York.

Report: Jon Rahm Set to Join LIV Golf

Rahm could get the richest LIV Golf contract yet.

How the $1B Golf Ball Industry Might Add a Few Strokes To Your Game

A distance roll back is set to be coming to golf balls.

In Light of More Player Defection Talk, PGA Tour Pens Optimistic Memo

Players on policy board look to convey sense of calm, optimism.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

Golf World in Chaos After Jon Rahm Joins LIV

0:00
0:00

Featured Today

The College Football Playoff is considering rotating TV networks for the national championship game.

CFP Considers Super Bowl-Like Rotation For National Championship Game

Multiple networks could share rights to the championship game, sources told FOS.
Brett Favre
November 27, 2023

Favre Welfare Case Hold-Up? “AG’s Office Has Not Expressed Interest In Pursuing”

The DOJ interviewed Brett Favre in early 2020.
The future of the Pac-12 rests on a court decision.
November 24, 2023

The Pac-12 Plays Its Final Regular-Season Game. Then A Court Decides Its Fate.

The conference’s future rests with a court decision.
Lane Kiffin
November 9, 2023

Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin Lawyers Argue for Dismissal of Player Lawsuit

FOS obtained audio of Lane Kiffin’s interaction with the player behind lawsuit.

Careers

Powered By

Careers in Sports

Looking for a new job? Check out these featured listings and search for openings all over the world.
FanDuel
Multiple Locations
Adidas
Multiple Locations
Creative Artists Agency
Multiple Locations
Bill Belichick

The Hoodie in the Booth? Bill Belichick’s TV Analyst Prospects Grow

If the Patriots coach is interested in TV, several TV networks told Front Office Sports they’d love to talk to him.
Sports Illustrated
exclusive
December 6, 2023

‘The Amount of Useless Stuff You Guys Do Is Staggering.’ Inside a Shakeup at Sports Illustrated’s Publisher

The new owner of the company that operates SI made a jarring first impression Wednesday, warning his employees: ‘No one is important.’
Deadspin
December 8, 2023

Deadspin Alters Controversial ‘Black Face’ Story Amid Legal Threat

After over a week of outrage, Deadspin changed a story many perceived as an attack on a young Kansas City Chiefs fan.
Sponsored

NHL’s Chris Foster on Amplifying Content Distribution With Automation

Learn how the NHL is using WSC Sports to increase fan engagement.
December 6, 2023

NBA Viewers Like the In-Season Tourney. What About Broadcasters?

The NBA In-Season Tournament could attract new media partners.
Eagles Niners
December 6, 2023

Eagles-49ers Achieves Fox’s Highest Sunday Viewership of Season

Fox’s broadcast of 49ers vs. Eagles pulls in 27.7M viewers.
ESPN Stephen A. Smith
December 5, 2023

Stephen A. Smith to ESPN: ‘I Want To Be Highest-Paid Talent’

With a No. 1 show, Stephen A. Smith wants to become number one in compensation.
December 5, 2023

Seminoles’ CFP Snub Opens New Front in Disney vs. Florida War

Florida lawmakers are already considering legislation to protest the College Football Playoff’s exclusion of Florida State.