Paul Azinger’s tenure within the sales space for NBC is no extra.
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Paul Azinger’s time as the lead analyst for NBC Golf is over.
NBC has elected to not re-sign Azinger, ending a four-year stint as the lead voice of the community’s skilled golf protection. The Associated Press‘ Doug Ferguson first reported the information, which was subsequently confirmed by Azinger himself.
“I have treasured working beside Dan Hicks and the other talented NBC broadcasters, as well as lead producer Tommy Roy and all those behind the scenes,” Azinger stated in a press release to Steve Eubanks. “They are a remarkable team, and I will miss them tremendously. My thanks to them and the countless others who have supported me and helped me along the way during my work in television. I have faith in what the future holds for me, for NBC, and for the great game of golf.”
Azinger stepped into the lead chair in 2019 after a stint in the identical function at Fox, the place he helped head up the community’s USGA championship protection. The former Ryder Cup captain was a well-liked rent among the many Fox group, the place his work ethic and team-first method served was welcomed.
He joined NBC as the successor to legendary golf analyst Johnny Miller, who retired upon the completion of the 2018 season after 29 years within the lead chair. At the time, Azinger’s hiring was largely lauded within the sport, and he was seen as a protected wager to hold the torch ahead for the community.
Golf’s stakeholders clearly agreed. In 2020, solely Azinger’s second yr within the chair, NBC signed a nine-year, multi-billion-dollar TV rights extension with the PGA Tour, guaranteeing the community rights to reside golf by the tip of the last decade. Just months later, the community additionally wrangled free the USGA TV rights from Fox, returning the U.S. Open to its longtime house on NBC.
At the time, it appeared Azinger was on a path to turning into the preeminent analyst in golf, succeeding Miller’s legacy. But as it could prove, these good emotions have been short-lived. As time wore on, public opinion turned towards Azinger’s folksy, usually instinct-driven evaluation. On greater than a handful of events, sharp viewers identified that his evaluation was, in truth, at odds with easily accessible statistics or information. In important moments, audiences grew annoyed together with his tendency to overgeneralize utilizing quips and aphorisms reasonably than data.
As the criticism mounted, Azinger appeared to go on the defensive, often deriding and dismissing the “media” throughout NBC’s protection — a curious choice contemplating his function as arguably golf media’s preeminent voice. The state of affairs got here to a head on the Ryder Cup, the place Azinger entered himself into the story surrounding Patrick Cantlay’s purported hatless protest by ripping the report as “clickbait garbage,” an allegation that subsequent reporting proved untrue.
NBC individually confirmed the information to GOLF.com and supplied a press release of its personal.
“We want to thank Paul for his work with us over the last five years,” a community spokesperson stated. “His insights, work ethic and relationships in the golf industry are well known, and we appreciate what he brought to our team. We wish Paul the best in his future endeavors.”
NBC’s choice to maneuver on from Azinger represents simply the most recent in a stretch of golf personnel modifications for the community, which elected to not renew the contracts of longtime analysts Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch final yr, whereas additionally shifting lead interviewer Kathryn Tappen again to school soccer. The community’s youth motion in golf matches a few of the current modifications it has made throughout its sports activities portfolio, which is anchored by veteran Mike Tirico however has regularly lurched youthful with the addition and promotion of voices like Maria Taylor, Noah Eagle, Chris Simms and Jac Collinsworth lately.
NBC didn’t instantly point out who was in line to succeed Azinger, however we may discover out his successor at this month’s Hero World Challenge, the identical event NBC introduced its staffing modifications in 2022.
