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 seek out his type when NBC known as and requested if he’d prefer to attempt 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 along with his homespun outlook and South Carolina drawl match to observe Paul Azinger and Johnny Miller?
“I’ve questioned 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 let you know in the event you 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 outdoors Rome. Kisner, Brandel Chamblee of Golf Channel, Luke Donald, Paul McGinley and Brad Faxon all had stints within the chair subsequent to guide announcer Dan Hicks. The community didn’t need to rush to fill the position completely.
The music stopped on Kisner.
“Kevin all the time shared frank and trustworthy opinions concerning the sport of golf throughout our varied conversations by way of the years,” mentioned Tommy Roy, the lead golf producer for NBC. “These sorts of opinions and his participating character make Kiz a fantastic match for our broadcast staff. 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 character this season.”
Kisner just isn’t executed along 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 checklist 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 prone to play at the least two occasions in the course of 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 keen to barter with them,” Kisner mentioned. “They need me there for the massive occasions that I’m not exempt into, they usually’ve been accommodating if I do get in. It’s a fantastic deal for me. NBC loves the concept that the weeks CBS is masking golf I’m enjoying, and hopefully enjoying nice.”
He’s fond of claiming about golf, “This ain’t no passion.” Even so, he probably can be in a much more distinguished position within the NBC sales space than contained in the ropes subsequent 12 months.