NBC Makes Right Call with Kevin Kisner (Given the Options Available)

When Paul Azinger wasn’t re-signed as NBC’s lead golf analyst for the 2024 season, the network used a revolving door of talent to find the best fit.

Not wanting to rush the decision, lead announcer Dan Hicks was joined in the booth by Brandel Chamblee, Luke Donald, Brad Faxon, Kevin Kisner, Jim “Bones” Mackay, and Paul McGinley throughout the season. Each had their pros and cons, but NBC ultimately landed on Kisner. Sports Business Journal was first to report the news on Wednesday and the network then made it official as the 40-year-old Kisner is set to serve as lead analyst while also still playing on the PGA Tour next year.

A four-time winner on Tour with nearly $30 million in on-course earnings, Kisner is exercising a one-time exemption from the PGA Tour career money list to be exempt for the 2025 season. The plan is for Kisner to work 10 tournaments – including the U.S. Open, Open Championship, Players Championship, FedEx Cup playoffs, and the Ryder Cup – but he’s likely to be inside the ropes for at least a pair of tournaments on NBC’s schedule during the Tour’s Florida swing. Golf Digest reported Faxon is likely to fill in for Kisner when he tees it up on Tour.

In 23 starts this season, Kisner made just six cuts and had a best finish of T29 at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, so the network shouldn’t worry too much about losing their man to a two-year exemption via a win in his limited starts. Kisner likes to say that golf “ain’t no hobby,” but playing on Tour is unlikely to be his profession after next season.

“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 press release. “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.”

Will he be better than Miller? Probably not. Will he be better than Azinger? Probably.

While he’s far from a finished product, Kisner’s connection to the players, his wit, and his insight made him arguably the most popular voice on the mic last season and a clear favorite for the job. Chamblee was solid but is much more valuable in the studio, and the latter is also true for McGinley. Faxon was good in spots but better served as a fill-in rather than a full-time voice. Bones brings more to the broadcast as an on-course reporter given his time as a caddie and Donald will be too busy plotting how to kick Team USA’s ass again in the Ryder Cup at Bethpage next fall. Phil Mickelson would’ve been an ideal candidate for the job but his move to LIV Golf and years of comments since have rendered that borderline impossible.

Given the options available, the NBC suits made the right choice.

This piece originally appeared in the Fried Egg Golf newsletter. Subscribe for free and receive golf news and insight every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.