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PAUL AZINGER TO MAKE OFFICIAL DEBUT AS NBC SPORTS’ LEAD GOLF ANALYST AT THE WGC-MEXICO CHAMPIONSHIP

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NBC Sports Kicks Off Seven Consecutive Weeks of Exclusive PGA TOUR Coverage Leading up to The Masters

 

ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2019) – Following the retirement of Johnny Miller earlier this month, Paul Azinger will step into the broadcast booth this week at the WGC-Mexico Championship to make his official debut as NBC Sports’ lead golf analyst. Beginning Thursday, GOLF Channel and NBC will kick off seven consecutive weeks of exclusive PGA TOUR coverage with nine total events, highlighted by THE PLAYERS Championship returning to March as part of the revamped Florida swing.

 

“There’s nothing like the challenge that the Florida Swing presents, with incredibly strong fields on phenomenal golf courses,” said Azinger. “The different types of Bermuda, the March winds and some overseed will be a big adjustment from the cold, wet weather on the West Coast these past few weeks. It’ll be a beautiful stretch of golf, and I’m looking forward to seeing it all play out.”

 

AZINGER JOINS HICKS IN THE BROADCAST BOOTH

Thursday’s opening round coverage at the WGC-Mexico Championship on GOLF Channel will feature the debut of Paul Azinger’s first full event in the broadcast booth as NBC Sports’ lead golf analyst. Azinger’s schedule will regularly include all four days of tournament coverage, and he’ll contribute to the network’s coverage each of the next six weeks. Azinger joins a broadcast team that features the deepest bench of golf voices in television, with more than 300 professional victories worldwide, including 18 major championships and including four World Golf Hall of Fame members.

 

At the WGC-Mexico Championship, Dan Hicks will join Azinger in the booth for all four rounds of coverage, where they’ll rotate with Steve Sands and Frank Nobilo. Notah Begay, David Feherty, Gary Koch, Todd Lewis, Jim “Bones” Mackay and Roger Maltbie also will be part of the broadcast team in Mexico.

 

At the Puerto Rico Open this week, Vince Cellini will make his debut as play-by-play host for GOLF Channel’s four-round live tournament coverage, where he’ll be joined by Curt Byrum, Kay Cockerill, Justin Leonard and Craig Perks.

 

NINE PGA TOUR EVENTS OVER NEXT SEVEN WEEKS ACROSS NBC SPORTS

GOLF Channel and NBC will combine to present more than 175 live tournament hours from nine PGA TOUR events during the next seven weeks, beginning with the opening rounds of WGC-Mexico Championship and the Puerto Rico Open on Thursday. The PGA TOUR then will move to Florida for four weeks as part of its revamped Florida Swing: The Honda Classic (Feb. 28-March 3), Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (March 7-10), THE PLAYERS Championship (March 14-17) and the Valspar Championship (March 21-24). Texas will wrap up the seven-week swing, with the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play (March 27-31) and the Valero Texas Open (April 4-7). The PGA TOUR also will stage the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship in the Dominican Republic opposite the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play (March 28-31).

 

TOPTRACER HEADLINES NBC SPORTS’ PRODUCTION ENHANCEMENTS

Through a new multi-year partnership with Topgolf, GOLF Channel and NBC Sports’ PGA TOUR telecasts in 2019 are equipped with expanded use of Toptracer ball-tracking technology, with the capability to utilize Toptracer on all 18 holes. Toptracer will be featured during tee shots either via live video or via NBC Virtual Follow, which is a live trace over a graphic representation of the hole. Toptracer also will be featured on fairway shots via two radio frequency (RF) cameras that can travel anywhere on the course.

 

Toptracer technology tracks the flight of a golf ball within a camera feed, in addition to real-time 3D ball flight data analytics such as ball speed, apex, curve and carry that is integrated into virtual graphics.

 

PGA TOUR LIVE ON NBC SPORTS GOLD

PGA TOUR LIVE, the PGA TOUR’s over-the-top subscription service on NBC Sports Gold that complements traditional television coverage, will feature live coverage of select featured groups and featured holes from seven of the nine PGA TOUR events over the next seven weeks, beginning Thursday with the WGC-Mexico Championship. In January, PGA TOUR LIVE launched on NBC Sports Gold, NBC Sports Group’s direct-to-consumer live streaming product, and will feature live four-day coverage from 28 PGA TOUR events in 2019.

 

NBC SPORTS GROUP AIRTIMES (Eastern):

 

WGC-Mexico Championship (Feb. 21-24)

Club de Golf Chapultepec, Mexico City, Mexico

Thursday         2-7 p.m.                       GOLF Channel

Friday              2-7 p.m.                       GOLF Channel

Saturday          Noon-2:30 p.m.           GOLF Channel

2:30-6 p.m.                  NBC

Sunday            Noon-1:30 p.m.           GOLF Channel

1:30-6 p.m.                  NBC

 

Puerto Rico Open (Feb. 21-24)

Coco Beach Golf & Country Club, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

Thursday         10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.   GOLF Channel

Friday              10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.   GOLF Channel

Saturday          2:30-5 p.m.                  GOLF Channel

Sunday            1:30-4:30 p.m.             GOLF Channel

 

The Honda Classic (Feb. 28-March 3)

PGA National (Champion Course), Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Thursday         2-6 p.m. ET                 GOLF Channel

Friday              2-6 p.m. ET                 GOLF Channel

Saturday          1-3 p.m. ET                 GOLF Channel

3-6 p.m. ET                 NBC

Sunday            1-3 p.m. ET                 GOLF Channel

3-6 p.m. ET                 NBC

 

Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (March 7-10)

Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Fla.

Thursday         2-6 p.m.                       GOLF Channel

Friday              2-6 p.m.                       GOLF Channel

Saturday          12:30-2:30 p.m.           GOLF Channel

2:30-6 p.m.                  NBC

Sunday            12:30-2:30 p.m.           GOLF Channel

2:30-6 p.m.                  NBC

 

THE PLAYERS Championship (March 14-17)

TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Thursday         1-7 p.m.                       GOLF Channel

Friday              1-7 p.m.                       GOLF Channel

Saturday          2-7 p.m.                       NBC

Sunday            1-6 p.m.                       NBC

 

Valspar Championship (March 21-24)

Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course), Palm Harbor, Fla.

Thursday         2-6 p.m.                       GOLF Channel

Friday              2-6 p.m.                       GOLF Channel

Saturday          1-3 p.m.                       GOLF Channel

3-6 p.m.                       NBC

Sunday            1-3 p.m.                       GOLF Channel

3-6 p.m.                       NBC

 

WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play (March 27-31)

Austin Country Club, Austin, Texas

Wednesday     2-8 p.m.                       GOLF Channel

Thursday         2-8 p.m.                       GOLF Channel

Friday              2-8 p.m.                       GOLF Channel

Saturday          10 a.m.-2 p.m.             GOLF Channel

2-6 p.m.                       NBC

Sunday            10 a.m.-2 p.m.             GOLF Channel

3-7 p.m.                       NBC

 

Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship (March 28-31)

Corales Golf Club, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Thursday         10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.   GOLF Channel

Friday              10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.   GOLF Channel

Saturday          2-5 p.m.                       GOLF Channel

Sunday            2:30-5 p.m.                  GOLF Channel

 

Valero Texas Open (April 4-7)

TPC San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas

Thursday         4-7 p.m.                       GOLF Channel

Friday              4-7 p.m.                       GOLF Channel

Saturday          1-3:30 p.m.                  GOLF Channel

3:30-6 p.m.                  NBC

Sunday            1-2:30 p.m.                  GOLF Channel

2:30-6 p.m.                  NBC

 

-NBC Sports Group-

Media Contacts:

Jeremy Friedman

GOLF Channel Communications

407-355-4058

Jeremy.Friedman@golfchannel.com

 

Jeff Szklinski

GOLF Channel Communications

407-248-3267

Jeff.Szklinski@golfchannel.com

 

PAUL AZINGER JOINS NBC SPORTS GROUP

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Azinger Will Be Lead Golf Analyst on Golf Channel and NBC Tournament Coverage, Contribute to Golf Central’s Live From the Masters,

Golf Channel’s Instructional Platforms and Future Golf Films Projects

 

ORLANDO, Fla., (Oct. 22, 2018) – Paul Azinger will become NBC Sports’ lead golf analyst in 2019, following Johnny Miller’s retirement at the Waste Management Phoenix Open (Jan. 31-Feb. 3). The announcement was made by Molly Solomon, executive vice president, content, Golf Channel.

“For nearly three decades fans tuning into NBC Sports’ golf coverage have been accustomed to a lead analyst that told it like it was, and that mantra will continue with Paul Azinger calling the action from our 18th tower,” Solomon said. “Following Johnny Miller is a tall order. However, we’re confident in Paul’s ability to serve our viewers with candor and sharp insight, pulling from his decorated professional golf career and extensive broadcast experience.”

“I have great admiration for both the quality of NBC Sports’ coverage and commitment to great storytelling, as well as the network’s deep commitment to the game I love,” Azinger said. “It is a great honor to cover a tremendous slate of PGA TOUR and marquee events, including THE PLAYERS, The Open, Ryder Cup and Tokyo Olympics. Additional opportunities to contribute to instructional and historical projects, as well as Golf Channel’s top-notch news platforms, makes this the role of a lifetime.”

“Paul is one of the most perceptive minds in golf,” said Tommy Roy, lead golf producer, NBC Sports. “His innate ability to dissect the action in front of him and convey it to the viewer in such a concise, assured manner is what we value most across our tournament broadcast team.”

Additionally, Azinger will contribute to Golf Channel’s portfolio of platforms, ranging from Golf Central’s Live From the Masters alongside former colleague Mike Tirico; develop instructional content for both on-air and via Revolution Golf; and develop documentary projects for Golf Channel’s Emmy-nominated and critically-acclaimed Golf Films.

Azinger’s NBC Sports schedule in 2019, which will regularly include all four days of tournament coverage on Golf Channel and NBC, will kick off at the WGC-Mexico Championship (Feb. 21-24). NBC Sports will allow Azinger to continue to call The Masters for the BBC, as well as the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open on FOX.

Paul Azinger Bio:

After playing for Florida State University, Azinger’s professional career highlights include 17 worldwide wins, including 12 PGA TOUR wins and the 1993 PGA Championship, as well as captaining the victorious 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team. Following his breakthrough major championship victory at the PGA Championship at Inverness, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. After battling the disease for months with intensive chemotherapy and radiation, he was able to return to golf and received the Golf Writers Association of America Ben Hogan Award in 1995, which recognizes a professional golfer who remains active in the sport despite serious illness or physical handicap. Azinger’s comeback was fully realized in 2000, when at the age of forty, he won the Sony Open in Hawaii.

From 2006-2015 he served as the lead golf analyst for ABC and subsequently ESPN. In 2016, he joined Fox Sports’ team for its slate of USGA Championships. Paul enjoys many hobbies off the course, including an affinity for poker and foosball, as well as maintaining a consistent schedule of all types of fishing. Azinger and his wife Toni reside in Bradenton, Fla., near their daughters Josie (son-in-law Sebastian) and Sarah Jean (son-in-law Tim). They are the proud grandparents of Campbell and Houston.

ABOUT GOLF CHANNEL

Golf Channel is a multimedia, golf entertainment and services company based in Orlando, Fla. Serving the most-affluent audience in all of television, Golf Channel – co-founded by Arnold Palmer in 1995 and now part of NBC Sports Group – is available to nearly 500 million viewers in more than 80 countries and nine languages around the world. Golf Channel features more live golf coverage than all other networks combined, including tournament action from the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, The Open, Olympics, and Ryder Cup, as well as high-quality news, instruction and original programming. Delivering unmatched coverage of the world of golf, fans are able to enjoy 24/7 live streaming of Golf Channel content through Golf Digital and the NBC Sports App, powered by Playmaker Media. In addition, Golf Channel connects the world to golf through a wide array of digital and lifestyle services including Golf Channel Mobile, a comprehensive app covering golf’s latest headlines, scores and analysis; GolfNow, the world’s largest online tee time booking platform and golf course technology partner, which includes the GolfNow Mobile App, featuring on-course GPS tracking, in-round scoring and game tracking; Revolution Golf, the largest direct-to-consumer digital platform in golf ; GolfAdvisor.com, the world’s largest golf course ratings and review resource for golfers, by golfers; a North American network of Golf Channel Academy instructional facilities; and Golf Channel Am Tour, the world’s largest amateur golf tour; and as the Official Media Partner of St. Andrews Links, the Home of Golf.

 

-NBC Sports Group-