Kevin Kisner has been named NBC Sports’ top analyst after a yearlong search

NBC Sports has a new lead voice, and his name is Kevin Kisner.

After a year-long search, NBC announced Wednesday that Kisner will be the new top golf commentator, closing the revolving door to the lead position after Paul Azinger’s departure in December 2023.

Kisner, an 18-year PGA Tour professional, will retain limited PGA Tour playing rights as part of the deal, allowing him the freedom to play the remainder of his Tour eligibility while still completing a full broadcast schedule. According to an NBC press release, the deal will see Kisner on the NBC Sports’ track to broadcast the US Open, Open Championship and Ryder Cup through 2025.

Kisner has been seen as NBC’s pick for the lead since at least February, when he walked into the booth to a well-received turn in the lead seat at the Sentry, WM Phoenix Open and Players Championship. The question, it seemed, centered on when Kisner wanted to give up the last days of his playing career to take the job.

A longtime expert told Hot Mic in January that he had “no plans” to retire to pursue a TV golf career, but admitted that the realities of high-level golf may eventually push him down that path. In April, he told A loop podcast that after much thought, he decided he wasn’t ready to leave pro golf.

“I haven’t played well in two years, and I don’t really want to go out like that, to be honest with you,” Kisner said. “I feel like I can still compete with the boys if I play well, which I haven’t yet and I think it’s good. So it’s kind of a test for me to see, hhow hard can you work to get it?”

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Kisner’s indecision appeared to put NBC in a bind. The network abruptly parted ways with Azinger a few months ago after five years at the top, and (perhaps wisely) wanted to avoid rushing to name a replacement. So, NBC waited until May to announce Brandel Chamblee as the lead commentator for its biggest broadcast in 2024, the US Open, along with Luke Donald the second time-Big broadcast, Open Championship. As part of those announcements, NBC said it would spend the remainder of 2024 piloting a series of lead voices under a new “odd-even” radio structure. Based on the slot number, the new structure will alternate broadcasting duties between two sets of commentators and broadcasters playing each game.

NBC Sports executive producer and head of golf producers Sam Flood said the network could — and probably would would be — wait until the season to hire a full voice.

“I think if we find the right person [we’ll hire someone full-time],” said Zamcolo. “But right now, we think the audience is benefiting from hearing all this different perspective. And it’s kind of fun every week to find out who’s going to be playing and how it all fits together. All these years, we keep going – but who knows what will happen next year?”

With Wednesday’s announcement, Kisner becomes NBC’s third full-time lead analyst since the Clinton Administration, stepping into a role that has long been dominated by big winners (other than Kisner). Instead, the 40-year-old and four-time PGA Tour winner will look to define the next generation of golf broadcasters, relying on his keen sense of humor, relationships with professional golfers and familiarity with social media for entertainment. a new generation of golf fans.

By retaining his PGA Tour rights, Kisner could change his schedule significantly with a victory. But playing in events could allow Kisner to take on a role similar to that of longtime CBS Sports analyst Gary McCord, who spent the formative years of his broadcasting career entering CBS television on weekends following missed cuts.

“If I win next week, maybe I’ll be like, ‘Okay, I might be done,'” Kisner said in April. “I want to show myself that I don’t go out like this.”

According to a press release, Kisner will step next to NBC Sports play-by-play voice Dan Hicks for the 2025 leadership seat. In the summer, Flood expressed his desire to bring back Hicks, who was under contract until 2024. . Now, it seems, Hicks is back in the playing chair, and with a new partner.