Kevin Kisner, along with a few familiar voices, are returning to the NBC Sports booth for next week’s Players Championship.
NBC and the PGA Tour announced Saturday that Gary Koch and Roger Maltbie will be part of the network’s coverage of the tour’s flagship event at TPC Sawgrass.
Maltbie, 72, was a five-time winner on the PGA Tour and worked for over 30 years at NBC once his playing career was derailed by injuries. Koch, 71, was with NBC for a quarter century following a tour career that garnered six victories. Both men were let go by the network in the fall of 2022 as NBC attempted to “refresh” its broadcast presentation. But with the Players celebrating its 50th anniversary next week, the duo will be a part of the broadcast, with Maltbie serving as an on-course reporter during Thursday and Friday coverage while Koch will join Mike Tirico in the broadcast booth. Koch’s “Better than most” call of Tiger Woods’ birdie putt on the 17th during the third round of the 2001 Players (which Woods eventually won), is one of the more indelible moments in tournament history.”Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch have called some of the most iconic moments at the Players Championship throughout the past three decades and having them on next week’s broadcasts is a great way for NBC Sports to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Players,” said Tommy Roy, lead golf producer at NBC.
Kisner made his broadcasting debut earlier this year at the Sentry and WM Phoenix Open to rave reviews. NBC announced that Kisner will join Dan Hicks in the booth, and will also team up with Smylie Kaufman for a “Friday Happy Hour” segment at the 17th hole. Kisner, 40, has missed the cut in all three PGA Tour starts this season, and is believed to be the frontrunner for the full-time color analyst position vacated by Paul Azinger.
The 2024 Players begins on March 14. Scottie Scheffler is the defending champ.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
