Kevin Kisner wouldn’t have guessed his inventory was beginning to rise as his golf sport was beginning to age.
A 12 months in the past, he had completed out of the highest 200 on the PGA Tour for the primary time in 10 years as he struggled to search out his kind when NBC known as and requested if he’d prefer to strive his hand within the broadcast sales space for The Sentry at Kapalua.
On Wednesday, NBC Sports activities introduced Kisner could be the lead analyst for its portfolio of golf protection that features two majors and the Ryder Cup.
What makes Kisner together with his homespun outlook and South Carolina drawl a great match to comply with Paul Azinger and Johnny Miller?
“I’ve puzzled that myself,” Kisner mentioned. “I believe I provide a unique perspective that’s extra player-centric. I’m not going to provide you fluff as a result of I’ve received an analyst’s job. I’ll inform it like it’s. I’m not going to hinder my relationship with gamers, however I’ll inform you for those who hit a nasty shot or make a nasty choice.”
NBC had what amounted to a sport of musical chairs since splitting with Azinger after the 2023 Ryder Cup exterior Rome. Kisner, Brandel Chamblee of Golf Channel, Luke Donald, Paul McGinley and Brad Faxon all had stints within the chair subsequent to steer announcer Dan Hicks. The community didn’t wish to rush to fill the function completely.
The music stopped on Kisner.
“Kevin all the time shared frank and sincere opinions in regards to the sport of golf throughout our numerous conversations by the years,” mentioned Tommy Roy, the lead golf producer for NBC. “These sorts of opinions and his partaking persona make Kiz an awesome match for our broadcast crew. He is aware of these gamers, he is aware of this sport, and the viewers will get to listen to extra of these opinions and that persona this season.”
Kisner is just not finished together with his personal sport. With simply over $29 million in profession earnings, he’s utilizing a one-time exemption from the PGA Tour profession cash listing to be exempt for 2025.
He’s a four-time winner, together with a World Golf Championship title on the Match Play and two different appearances within the championship match. He performed within the Presidents Cup in 2017 and 2022 and was an assistant this 12 months at Royal Montreal.
The plan is for him to work 10 tournaments, which would come with the U.S. Open and The Open, the FedExCup playoffs and The Gamers Championship. He’s more likely to play at the very least two occasions throughout the Florida swing that NBC broadcasts.
He nonetheless considers himself a participant and has seen indicators that his swing is attending to the place it was.
“They have been so supportive of that, and that’s why I used to be prepared to barter with them,” Kisner mentioned. “They need me there for the massive occasions that I’m not exempt into, and so they’ve been accommodating if I do get in. It’s an awesome deal for me. NBC loves the concept the weeks CBS is overlaying golf I’m enjoying, and hopefully enjoying nice.”
He’s fond of claiming about golf, “This ain’t no passion.” Even so, he doubtless shall be in a much more distinguished function within the NBC sales space than contained in the ropes subsequent 12 months.
