Report: Kevin Kisner Set For 2025 Lead Golf Analyst Role At NBC Sports
The four-time PGA Tour winner, who stepped into the role on several occasions in 2024, is expected to take on the task on a more regular basis
The long-standing vacancy of NBC Sports’ lead golf analyst is reportedly about to be filled by Kevin Kisner.
Per Sports Business Journal’s Josh Carpenter, and as also reported by the PGA Tour, the broadcasting giant is expected to confirm the four-time PGA Tour winner in the role for 2025 imminently, where he will work alongside play-by-play announcer Dan Hicks.
Kisner already has experience in the role having performed it following the surprise departure of Paul Azinger from the position over a year ago. Kisner auditioned for the role at The Sentry in January, while he took on the task for a second time a month later at the WM Phoenix Open and was also on duty for the PGA Tour’s flagship event, The Players Championship in March.
Kisner was one of several to be given the chance to demonstrate their expertise in the position following Azinger's NBC Sports exit in November 2023. Others who stepped in on a temporary basis included Curt Byrum, Paul McGinley, Geoff Ogilvy and Brandel Chamblee.
Even with Kisner’s additional responsibilities, it does not mean the end of his PGA Tour career, with Carpenter reporting that he will continue to compete on the circuit in a limited capacity. Kisner is also one of the players signed up for the tech-infused TGL, which begins in January.
The news comes after Kisner had ruled himself out taking on the role full-time back in April, telling Golf Digest's The Loop podcast that his playing commitments made it hard to perform broadcasting duties as well.
He explained: "It started in Maui, I told them I'd do Maui for them - I was already headed there to play the Sony Open. That worked out, and I guess they liked it enough to ask me to do Phoenix [WM Phoenix Open]. Phoenix turned into The Players, and that turned into me saying 'guys, I can't keep doing this every off week. My wife is going to kill me if I never go home during off weeks!'
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
"My schedule is planning on still to play the whole season, and I realise it's more work than I thought as far as being able to do both. So I told NBC I was going to play until the end of the season and then we can reassess after that."
The report also states that Kisner’s position will focus solely on the broadcaster's weekend coverage, while NBC Sports is expected to continue with two play-by-play announcers and two analysts rotating on odd and even holes at its coverage of the biggest events.
The news comes less than a month after Golfweek reported that Azinger was poised to make his broadcasting return on the Golf Channel’s coverage of the PGA Tour Champions for the 2025 season, where he will replace the retiring Lanny Wadkins as the lead analyst of the men's over-50s circuit on a one-year contract.
Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.
He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.
Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.
Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.
-
Tony Finau Dismisses LIV Golf Rumors
The six-time PGA Tour winner told Golfweek’s Adam Schupak that there is no truth in reports linking him with a move to LIV Golf
By Mike Hall Published
-
Transgender Golfer Hailey Davidson Banned From LPGA After Gender Policy Update
The LPGA has updated a key policy meaning that from the 2025 season, athletes who transitioned following puberty will not be allowed to play in its competitions
By Mike Hall Published