Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus Pay Tribute to Departing NBC Commentators Gary Koch and Roger Maltbie

In addition to seeing Tiger Woods and son Charlie joust with Justin Thomas and father Mike, along with a feel-good victory by Vijay Singh and son Qass at the PNC Championship, there was a bit of a melancholy tone during the family exhibition in Orlando this weekend.

It was the final golf broadcast for Gary Koch and Roger Maltbie after NBC decided not to renew either TV veterans’ contracts for the 2024 season.

Koch, 70, and Maltbie, 73, have been fixtures around the sport, especially since they were seen most every weekend through NBC’s ownership of Golf Channel.

Despite making the decision to move on, NBC did pay tribute to the departing broadcasters during Sunday’s final golf broadcast of 2023.

Thank you, Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch. ❤️

Names from around the game paid tribute to these Golf Channel icons who are broadcasting their last event at the @PNCchampionship this weekend. pic.twitter.com/fkbktjCeLq

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) December 17, 2022

Woods and Jack Nicklaus were among those paying tribute. Woods mentioned Koch’s famous call of his 60-foot birdie putt on No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass—one of golf’s most famous holes—in 2001 when Koch quipped Woods’ putt was “better than most” on his way to The Players Championship title that year.

March 24, 2001: @TigerWoods drains a 60-foot putt for birdie on the 17th hole on Saturday during The Players Championship at Sawgrass. Gary Koch and Johnny Miller on the call.

“Better than most!”

He would go on to win the tournament. pic.twitter.com/vcdbZO1Wzm

— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) March 24, 2021

Here’s a fan shot of Maltbie announcing one of Woods’ shots on Saturday.

Roger Maltbie is a national treasure. We’re going to miss him every week calling golf, and especially calling Tiger’s shots.#golf #commentating #legend pic.twitter.com/9eKXA7uzox

— Steve Scott (@sscottpga) December 17, 2022

When given a moment to reflect on his career, Maltbie said:

“It’s been a thrill ride for 31 years. And I still get a kick out of watching them, I really do. As a golf nut, to watch the very best players in the world play their best is still exciting for me. And I’m going to miss it desperately. I’m going to miss it.”

The next PGA Tour broadcast will be the Sentry Tournament of Champions, starting Jan. 5 from Hawaii.

Cover Image Via GolfWeek