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A number of weeks in the past information broke that longtime NBC and Golf Channel broadcasters Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch could be leaving the community on the finish of 2022.
On the time, it was obvious that this transfer was made to revamp the staid really feel of NBC’s protection, even when Maltbie and Koch weren’t really the issue with the broadcasts.
From our piece then:
It’s necessary to notice that none of these issues will likely be solved by shifting on from Maltbie and Koch. At no level would anybody level to these two as something near the largest issues with NBC’s golf protection. That stated, this does really feel just like the kind of transfer that would trace at wider adjustments coming quickly. CBS moved on from Gary McCord and Peter Kostis earlier than giving their broadcasts a a lot brisker really feel total.
Now, due to a report from Golfweek’s Adam Schupak, we all know what a few of these adjustments will likely be. In keeping with Schupak, NBC will add Brad Faxon and Smylie Kaufman to their protection in 2023. As well as, longtime Golf Channel analyst Curt Byrum will reportedly be bumped as much as a extra distinguished function within the wake of David Feherty leaving for LIV Golf.
Each names will possible be acquainted to most golf viewers. Faxon was a longtime PGA Tour participant, with a reasonably embellished profession and a post-playing resurgence as a placing guru to gamers like Rory McIlroy. He additionally labored as Fox’s lead analyst for years (changing Greg Norman) contributing to an excellent run of USGA protection on Fox Sports activities networks till they dumped golf rights again to NBC. In keeping with Schupak, Faxon will likely be a tower analyst and in addition seem on studio programming.
Kaufman, in the meantime, is the clear try by NBC to skew youthful. Solely 31, Kaufman was as soon as a top-50 participant on the planet. Golf is tough, although, and he’s struggled together with his taking part in profession for a wide range of causes lately. That stated, Kaufman clearly is aware of a lot of the high younger gamers on tour, and is very tight with gamers like Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.
Schupak’s report notes that this transfer is instantly associated to an identical addition by their competitors at CBS:
Kaufman is anticipated to be an on-course analyst and seen as a direct response to CBS’s hiring of Colt Knost, who went from a part-time function final yr to a full-time gig this season.
Kaufman has been good, and placing a peer on the course interacting with gamers couldn’t harm when it comes to getting large names to truly open up and supply greater than the same old cliched solutions.
It’s clear that NBC acknowledges they wanted to a refresh. Let’s hope these adjustments additionally presage extra widespread manufacturing adjustments as effectively. That, greater than the rest, is what’s wanted.
[Golfweek]
