Paul Azinger, former PGA Tour pro and longtime golf analyst, out at NBC Sports
19/11/2023 19:22
Azinger will not return to NBC Sports in 2024 as the veteran golf analyst didn't get his contract renewed.
People have grown to recognize Paul Azinger's voice over the last five years on NBC Sports. The Ryder Cup broadcast was ultimately the last time people will hear him on television, at least for now.
He will not be on the call for the upcoming Hero World Challenge when Tiger Woods makes his PGA Tour return.
The long-time analyst will not return to NBC for 2024 after his contract was not renewed. He did not discuss the specifics of why his time with the network has come to an end. However, sources say that it's part of a larger changing landscape of NBC Sports' golf coverage with more changes coming, per Golf Digest.
Azinger began working on television in 2005, sharing analyst duties with Sir Nick Faldo.
From 2006 to 2015, he was the lead golf analyst on ABC and ESPN. The former PGA Tour pro joined Fox Sports's team for its USGA championships in 2016 after ESPN lost the rights to broadcast those events.
He then became the lead analyst in 2019 at NBC after Johnny Miller retired.
"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," Azinger said in a statement.
"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."
Azinger played in or covered over 100 international team events and major championships over a career spanning more than 40 years. He won the 1993 PGA Championship in a playoff over Greg Norman, his lone major championship.
NBC Sports has not made an official announcement on who will replace him in the booth or who will join Dan Hicks at the Hero World Challenge.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation's Playing Through. You can follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports for more golf coverage. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough too.
