63 Year-Old Paul Azinger Ousted From NBC’s Broadcast Booth

After five years on-the-call as NBC Golf’s lead-analyst from 2019 to 2023, Johnny Miller’s successor, Paul Azinger, has been relieved of his commentating duties at the major network.

🚨❌📺 JUST IN: Paul Azinger / NBC Sports part ways as contract ends pic.twitter.com/DJwa3jx2Sm

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) November 19, 2023

Upon learning that his contract with NBC wouldn’t be renewed, the winner of the 1993 PGA Championship was reportedly taken aback and was unhappy with the decision.

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Many believe that ‘Zinger’s dismissal confirms the widespread speculation about the cable TV behemoth and how it’s been concealing its plans for restructuring its personnel; an estimated overhaul that began almost a year ago when the former on-course commentators, Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch, were (also) shown the door.

While the twelve-time Tour-winner felt blindsided by this news, a number of golf-fans felt differently; and even welcomed it.

As it turned out, the former Seminole was better at playing the game than talking it. Sadly, the Head-Captain of the 2008 US Ryder Cup team ended up calling the last tournament of his NBC broadcasting-career at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club for the 2023 Ryder Cup.

In Italy, ‘Zinger’s miscues on the mic’ were well documented by fans and media alike; and to the extent that they could’ve been translated as the straw that broke the camel’s back. Over the last couple of years, fans grew increasingly frustrated with Paul’s lackluster analysis and, more specifically, his usage of outdated one-liners along with his tendency to ask questions rather than provide answers.

Merely in its infancy when Rickie Fowler was (also) putting the finishing touches on his fifth Tour-victory, ‘Zinger’s NBC broadcasting-career traces all the way back to the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open alongside the drama that ensued from Fowler’s unsteady play and the new broadcaster’s puzzling commentary.

Attempting to emphasize the importance of the Phoenix Open during the tournament’s final round (and) as its leader, Fowler, was standing on the 16th tee, ‘Zinger claimed that Rickie had to be “feeling major-championship pressure.” While it’s been made clear that Rickie’s particularly fond of the Phoenix Open, he doesn’t want to win in Scottsdale as badly as he wants to grab a major championship title. Therefore, Rickie wasn’t feeling the heat to the extent Paul claimed he was.

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Yes, like other players who happen to find themselves in-contention at a regular Tour-event, Fowler’s adrenaline was definitely pumping as he vied for the title at golf’s greenest show on-grass. In the final round of this year’s US Open at LA Country Club, Rickie lost his game and couldn’t defend his share of the 54-hole lead. Unlike the resilience Rickie mustered during the final round of the 2019 Phoenix Open, the 34 year-old’s poor start within the final round of the 2023 US Open never turned in the other direction; and Rickie’s final-round performance at LACC is proof of how he really internalizes (actual) major-championship pressure.

Putting Paul’s initial missteps behind us, it would be unfair to say his tenure was bad from start to finish. There were some good moments; like when he’d hint at his own competitiveness thru reminding us how quick today’s players are to share information (about technique-&-mechanics) with each other.

Furthermore, Azinger was extremely insightful when it came to green-side bunkers; given he was one of the best bunker-players in the world during much of his playing career. At times, he’d go into detail on certain players’ mechanics-&-technique while (also) reminding us it’s important to stand close enough to the ball on our wedges; as the great Byron Nelson told him years ago.

With one-major championship title and twelve PGA Tour victories to his credit, the 6-foot, 2-inch community college walk-on had a hell of a playing career and, although his record’s one that’s probably viewed as being shy of Hall-of-Fame recognition, it’s not short of such status by much. Had Paul not been diagnosed with lymphoma towards the end of 1993, it’s fair to wonder whether or not he would’ve won a few more times between then and the last time he won at the 2000 Sony Open in Hawaii.

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For the record, Azinger’s notched twelve wins on-Tour and two-wins on the European Tour; with 13 of his 14 wins coming by the time he defeated Greg Norman in a playoff at Inverness’ ‘93 PGA Championship. By comparison, Azinger’s win-total is only three-wins (between the PGA-&-Euro Tour) behind the resume of the World Golf Hall-of-Famer, Freddie Couples, who also happens to be the least accomplished player in the Hall-of-Fame.

Yes, it got old listening to Paul rattle-off his one-liners such as “players choke for two reasons: cash and prestige.” Or, when he’d walk us through how pressure-&-nerves affect our taste buds. Obviously, Azinger probably isn’t or wasn’t the announcer (or player) that the two-time major-winner and 25-time Tour-winner, Johnny Miller, was. As audiences were trying to adapt to the beloved broadcaster’s replacement, they found themselves yearning for old times to return to them; and before long Miller’s mark morphed into the expectation.

In hindsight, CBS’s Sir Nick Faldo was a quality announcer whose broadcasting career is revered by numerous viewers; but even his work is not to be confused with the heights that Miller attained.

To be clear, holding Azinger to the standard that Johnny Miller set wasn’t fair; and nor should it be for anyone who has the courage to take the job moving forward.

I’ll always appreciate what the former Florida State Seminole player said when he was asked about his long-lasting feud with Spain’s Seve Ballesteros during the time the five-time major-champion was losing his fight against cancer. As Azinger said all along, he felt he was right or justified in what he did or didn’t do back then; and just because the year was 2009 or 2010 (or very near there) as opposed to the late-eighties or early nineties doesn’t change that. Moreover, Seve’s debilitating health wasn’t enough to put Azinger in a position where he felt like he needed to soften or change his stance.

Azinger is a competitor who believes in himself and isn’t going to change his ways for anyone. While some people might argue that Azinger should’ve backed down or shown greater remorse for the pair’s mistakes with each other years later and once Ballesteros had become terminally ill, the American understands and believes that he’s right, and, therefore, he wisely decided to hold his ground.

Steadfast in his unwillingness to waver on such principles, ‘Zinger was also implying that the state of Seve’s health, twenty years after the fact, had (or has) absolutely nothing to do with what transpired between the stars. Sadly, the Spanish legend passed away in 2011; not long after Azinger refused to cave to the unknowledgeable public and its wild demands for an apology.

And, that, my friends, is Paul Azinger.

A true, fierce competitor.

Cover Photo via X