[PHOTO: Mike Ehrmann]
Kevin Kisner adopted the phrase “Ain’t no hobby” in regards to his high skill level on the golf course, but he’ll take the first steps in a potential new career this weekend. And he doesn’t want them to be his last.
The four-time PGA Tour winner will be a first-time analyst for NBC Sports at the Sentry, which kicked off the 2024 PGA Tour season yesterday. Kisner is expected to make a brief TV appearance during today’s coverage before assuming the seat next to play-by-play man Dan Hicks for the final two rounds, on Sunday and Monday (Australian time).
To be clear, the 39-year-old doesn’t think his playing days are behind him – Kisner plans to play the next two weeks at the Sony Open and the American Express – after a rough 2023. But he’s long been open to doing TV when he hangs up his spikes, and NBC tapped him to fill the departed Paul Azinger’s role for this week and next month’s WM Phoenix Open. NBC has yet to name a full-time replacement for Azinger, although reports indicate the network has its eyes on our own Geoff Ogilvy.
https://twitter.com/GolfDigest/status/1736076221895901606
In the meantime, golf fans will have their ears on Kisner, who has been known to use some, um, colourful language on the course. And in an interview with Sports Illustrated‘s Gabby Herzig, Kisner made it clear he’s been told he’s on his own if he lets the wrong thing slip out of his mouth.
“The No.1 and No.2 questions I’ve gotten are: ‘Are you retiring from golf?’ and ‘How long of a delay are they putting you on?'” Kisner said. “I asked [NBC Golf producer Tommy Roy] that question and he said, ‘Oh, no, there’s no delay.’ I said, ‘Well what happens if I mess up?’ And he said, ‘Well, you get cancelled. I don’t.'”
Not much of a safety net! Although he’s been reminded of a few things not to say.
“Yeah, they’ve told me a few words not to mention on air,” Kisner added with a laugh.
Break a leg, Kevin! Just don’t break any Federal Communications Commission laws in the process.
