NBC will stick with dual announcers and analysts for the US Open
NBC Sports has been without a permanent analyst in the 18th tower all year, and that’s not going to change for the U.S. Open.
The network announced its commentary team Monday: Dan Hicks and Mike Tirico will share play-by-play duties with an analyst assigned to each. The four-wide booth will have Hicks calling even-numbered holes with Brandel Chamblee and Tirico calling the odd-numbered holes with Brad Faxon.
NBC also said Roger Maltbie would return as an on-course reporter, while Gary Koch would be a booth analyst alongside Steve Sands during early coverage. The contracts of Koch and Maltbie were not renewed after 2022.
And the “Happy Hour” with Smylie Kaufman, a popular addition in which Kaufman has a set on the course Friday, will be at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina for the U.S. Open, which will be played June 13-16.
Golf traditionally has a lead announcer and an analyst. Johnny Miller was the voice of golf on NBC for nearly 30 years. He was succeeded by Paul Azinger, whose contract was not renewed after the Ryder Cup last year.