Kevin Kisner named NBC’s lead golf analyst year after shock Paul Azinger change

NBC has zeroed in on its replacement for Paul Azinger.

Last year, Azinger was abruptly dropped as NBC’s lead golf analyst before the Hero World Challenge after five years with the network.

NBC announced Wednesday that PGA Tour veteran Kevin Kisner would be fulfilling the role.

“I’m humbled and grateful to have the chance to sit in the seat that many legends like Johnny Miller and Paul Azinger have sat in before me on NBC,” Kisner said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to offering a different voice and adding a new dynamic to the broadcasts, hopefully reaching more fans and telling things like it is. That’s what I think I do best. I’m also excited to continue to compete on the PGA TOUR amongst my peers, which I think will help me to tap into what these guys are really feeling on the course.”  

Kisner, 40, joins play-by-play broadcaster Dan Hicks in the booth.

NBC’s announcement said that Kisner would call the “majority” of golf events that the network covers, including the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, the Ryder Cup, the FedEx Cup playoffs and the PLAYERS Championship.

Kisner has won four PGA Tour tournaments and his best finish in a major was a tie for second place in the 2018 Open Championship.

“Kevin always shared frank and honest opinions about the game of golf during our various conversations through the years,” Tommy Roy, NBC Sports’ lead golf producer, said. “Those kinds of opinions and his engaging personality make Kiz a great fit for our broadcast team. He knows these players, he knows this game, and the audience will get to hear more of those opinions and that personality this season.”

Kisner will still play a “limited” amount of PGA Tour tournaments, according to NBC.