The news, first reported in December by multiple outlets, comes after long-time voices Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch saw their extended runs with the NBC Sports come to an end.

Faxon, 61, is an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour and known as one of the best putters in the history of the game, serving as a short-game whisperer to a number of pros, including Rory McIlroy. He briefly worked for NBC Sports last decade and was the lead golf analyst for Fox Sports’ US Open coverage for five years. Faxon has also been an on-air contributor to Sky Sports’ golf coverage in Europe and made a number of appearances last year on Golf Channel’s “Live From” show during its major coverage. Faxon will take over a hole announcement during the broadcast and continue to be a part of “Live From”.

Kaufman, 31, won the 2015 Shriners Open and is perhaps best known for playing in the final group at the 2016 Masters. The LSU product has transitioned into broadcasting and worked for ESPN, Golf Channel and NBC’s Peacock channel last season, earning rave reviews for his on-course reporting. Kaufman is expected to be an on-course reporter in his new role.

“We have the deepest roster in the game and are excited to showcase our new voices in Brad and Smylie as well as familiar faces in new roles as we start the 2023 PGA Tour season this week at Kapalua,” said Molly Solomon, executive producer at Golf Channel.

NBC also announced that Golf Channel contributors Damon Hack and Cara Banks will serve as interviewers for the upcoming season. They will replace Kathryn Tappen, who is not expected to return to NBC Sports’ golf coverage in 2023. Dan Hicks and Paul Azinger are back for their fifth consecutive year as play-by-play commentator and lead analyst.

Kaufman is expected to work this week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions in Maui, while Faxon will make his debut next month at the Honda Classic.

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In interviews with Golf Digest recently, they both described being “hurt” by the way they’re going out — unable to say proper farewells to the many people they’ve become associated with at USGA and PGA Tour events around the country.

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Behind the scenes in one of golf’s most complicated TV deals

But to NBC’s credit, it is not letting the two walk into the sunset without proper recognition. Following the conclusion of the first round of the PNC on Saturday, the network devoted 13 minutes to Maltbie and Koch, including a six-minute montage of some of their most memorable calls, as well as having the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods speak about what the announcers have meant to the game.

Maltbie and Koch sat in the booth with lead anchor Dan Hicks watching the tributes and were clearly touched by the recognition.

“You look back on some of those things, and in the heat of the moment you forget how much fun you’re having, and how great it is to be a part of those magical moments,” Koch, 70, said. “I have to say that 26 years has gone by very quickly.”

Said Maltbie, 73: “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 videotaped kudos covered the spectrum of both golfers with whom Koch and Maltbie competed, as well as those younger players whose careers the two have documented while being behind the mic. Maltbie is known for trouping with the lead groups at every event he covered — most memorably in US Opens. Koch worked in the booth and produced some memorable calls, including his “better than most” nugget when Tiger Woods made his snaking putt on the island 17th green in the 2001 Players Championship.

Here is what some of those paying tribute said:
Jack Nicklaus: “You both have been at NBC Sports for over 25 years. You both have done a great job and called it like it is. If a guy did something wrong, both of you would tell them that. If they did things right, you praised them. You’ve contributed a tremendous amount to the game of golf. You’ve been goo friends to the game, and more than that, you’ve been a good friend to me.”

Lee Trevino: “I’m sorry to see them leave. I tell you, Gary was a hell of a player. … Roger, what can I tell you about Roger? The moustache man. I love him to death. We’re going to miss you guys.”

Webb Simpson: “I still remember the first time you came and followed my group, and I realized I was in a good position if Roger Maltbie is coming to follow me. You made me nervous. … But it’s been great to work with you over the years.”

Billy Horschel: “You guys have been so great to me in my 14 years, the way you covered me. You guys have been fair. You guys are well prepared. You guys come out to the range and talk to the players, so you guys have information. I appreciate that as a player.”

Davis Love III: “Gary, you’ve had a long career. We’re going to miss your voice on the PGA Tour. You’ve been so supportive of me and so many tour players in our career. You were especially nice to me as a rookie … you and Vinny Giles taking me under your wing. I’m going to look forward to playing a lot of golf with you guys at Seminole. … Roger, congratulations on an incredible career. I always knew I was playing well when you would show up. You always made me feel comfortable. You always had a great joke when I was out there grinding it out.”

Justin Thomas: “Y’all are unbelievable people. You’ve put so much time and hard work and effort into the incredible careers you’ve had. I’m going to miss you dearly. I’m going to miss hearing your voice and being able to mess around and hang out with you guys.”

Tiger Woods: “Gary, probably the call of all calls, right, at 17? ‘Better than most.’ You’ve had an amazing career, not only as a player but as a commentator. You understood us players. You understand how hard certain shots were and couldn‘t have been more descriptive of shots. … We’re going to miss that side of your commentating, your ability to understand us. You get it. Not too many commentators really, truly get it, but you do.
“Well, Rog. I’m going to miss you, especially those shortcuts you used to take in carts. … I do remember a call in 2000 [in the U.S Open at Pebble Beach] — it ‘wasn’t a fair fight’ — with that little 6-iron up the hill at No. 6. … You’ve been awesome. The needling I used to get from you here and there on a shot I would hit. I’m going to miss you out there, big guy.”

While Koch has no plans to continue in broadcasting, Maltbie is expected to work a handful of events for Golf Channel in 2023. And they do have the one final round together on Sunday at the PNC Championship. Given their connection to Woods, it would be quite the fitting farewell if Tiger and his son Charlie could pull off a win. One thing is certain: There will be no shortage of appreciation, or tears.

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By John Strege
NBC’s telecast of the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Saturday was less about the golf and the well-oiled chorus at the boisterous 16th hole. It was more about saying goodbye.

Johnny Miller was working his final broadcast as an analyst for NBC Sports, ending a 29-year run, and it was an emotional sendoff that hit all the right notes, including those from Jake Trout and the Ballwashers. NBC’s Peter Jacobsen, aka Jake Trout, introduced a song, “I’m Gonna Miss Johnny Miller.” It included Miller uttering the forbidden word, choke, on which his broadcast career turned, in his very first broadcast. It came on the 72nd hole of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in 1990, when the same Peter Jacobsen faced a long-iron second shot, all carry over water while attempting to win the tournament.

“This is absolutely the easiest shot to choke on,” Miller said, seconds before Jacobsen pulled it off en route to a victory.

Miller worked without an internal editor, a refreshing change in television golf. He did not mince words, a reminder of which he offered early in the telecast, when Scotland’s Russell Knox fanned a birdie putt well left of the hole on the 16th green.

“That was about as good as the food in Scotland,” Miller said.

“There we go,” NBC’s David Feherty said in response. “Atta boy, Johnny. Keep it coming.”

Miller’s partner in the booth, Dan Hicks, called it “springing his A-game.”

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His honesty was alluded to among the tributes pre-recorded. Rickie Fowler noted that Miller, “kicked me in the butt a few times. In a good way.” Patrick Reed cited Miller’s insisting he supplement his patented draw with a fade. “I’ve got to thank you for being at Doral and busting my chops for always hitting a draw,” he said. “Now I’m a little bit more rounded player. I can hit both shots. Thanks for that.”

“Sometimes a father to his son says some things that sound a little tough, but it’s for the right reasons,” Miller replied. “I feel like I almost look over these young guys and want them to step it up and move up a notch. Sometimes it takes some commentary to get them to check things out.”

CBS’ Jim Nantz, among others from broadcasting, expressed his “undying respect for you, what you’ve done for the game. A true guardian of our sport. On behalf of all my colleagues who also admire you so deeply, congratulations on such a fantastic career, and thank you for what you’ve done for our sport.”

NBC’s NFL analyst Cris Collingsworth called his approach “gut-level honesty.”

President Donald Trump complimented Miller on his analysis. “I’ve tried to copy it, but it hasn’t worked out the same way,” he said. “Congratulations on two incredible careers and maybe most importantly on an incredible family.”

Nearing the end of the broadcast, each member of the NBC crew bid him adieu, none more emotionally than Roger Maltbie, who like Miller grew up in California’s Bay area.

“Johnny, a chance to speak from the heart,” Maltbie said, wrestling with his emotions. “You’ve been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was 12, 13, you were 16, 17, you were winning all the junior tournaments and I wanted to be like you. In ’66, at age 19, you played so great at the Olympic Club [in the U.S. Open] and all the junior golfers in Northern California wanted to be like you.

“We got a chance to share golf’s greatest mulligan. Got to do this for 27 years with you. It’s bittersweet. I’m going to miss you. I hope you catch the biggest fish you ever caught in your life. And I hope you’re the grandpa you want to be.”

Through it all, Miller fought back tears. He thanked the viewers for accepting “my form of commentating, which was not normal,” he said. He likely leaves with no regrets, nor should he, even for those comments that rankled players. Jimmy Roberts summed it up neatly in a piece on Miller during GolfChannel’s part of the Phoenix Open telecast on Saturday.

“He worked in service to the people on their couches,” Roberts said, “not to the people on the range.”

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By Alex Myers
From winning some of golf’s biggest events to talking about them, Johnny Miller has carved out a special place in golf history. But after five decades of making a living off the game he loves, Miller is walking away.

“It just seemed like a nice round number,” Miller told GolfDigest.com on Monday. “I’ve been on for 50 years with no break. I had my 24th grandchild yesterday. All my friends were retiring, and it got to the point where I was like, ‘Hey, how come I’m not retiring?’ It’s been a great run. I’ve done everything I can do announcing wise.”

Miller has spent the past 29 years working for NBC/Golf Channel, the last of which was a one-year deal that took him through 2018. He had been toying with retirement for the past few years, though, and gave serious thought to making his final event the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, where Miller won his second and final major in 1976. So news of the World Golf Hall of Famer calling it quits wasn’t a total shock, but his voice will certainly be missed by golf fans.

And although Miller leaves open the possibility that he “might poke his head in” from time to time, he’s decided his last official (and only remaining) event will be next year’s Waste Management Phoenix Open, which will be broadcast on NBC with CBS having the rights to Super Bowl LIII.

“It was my idea,” Miller said of making Phoenix, where he had so many great memories as a player, his final tournament. “I was not going to announce this during the playoff events or the Ryder Cup, because it would have been selfish to do that and take away from those events. I was always known as the ‘Desert Fox.’ My best golf, besides final round at Oakmont, came in the desert, especially in 1975 when I won by 14 shots in Phoenix and by nine shots in Tucson. I was playing at a level of golf those two weeks as good or better than I’ve ever seen anyone hit the ball.”

While the Johnny Miller Era on NBC is coming to an end, the network appears to have found a worthy replacement in the booth. Sources confirmed to GolfDigest.com that Miller will be replaced by Paul Azinger, something that was first reported by Golfweek.

Miller, however, couldn’t confirm the Azinger hire. While he said “I’d like to tell you I had a say in my successor,” he believed NBC/Golf Channel was still “kicking around some names.” The network is expected to make an announcement shortly.

Azinger, 59, is the current lead analyst for Fox Sports’ coverage of the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open. According to Golfweek, Azinger is expected to remain in that position while working for NBC/Golf Channel.

If Azinger is the man for the job, he’ll inherit some big shoes—and a seasoned squad to which Miller will have a hard time saying goodbye.

“I’m going to miss them a lot, especially when I see them doing the tournaments I did. That’s going to be the hardest part,” Miller said. “Dan [Hicks] and I have gotten really close. He’s such a good guy and really good and what he does. Dan and Gil Capps [NBC/Golf Channel’s head of editorial research] make it like a safety net. Dan is so good that even if I have a brain cramp, he can fill in for me. The team is so good. All the guys out there, Gary Koch, Roger Maltbie, they’re just a super team.”

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Roger Maltbie and his wife, Donna, were in their hotel room in Napa, Calif., on Sunday night, slowly getting things in order for the ride back to their home south of San Francisco on Monday morning, when the smell from the Silverado Highlands wafted into their condo at the Silverado Resort. Roger went to check it out and saw the orange glow in the sky on the other side of the mountains. “We better start packing,” he told Donna after hustling back to the room.

At another part of the property, PGA Tour VP of rules Mark Russell was seeing, smelling and thinking the same thing. “No one had to tell me when to evacuate,” Russell said when we spoke on Monday afternoon. “I could tell it was already bad, and it was going to get a lot worse. It’s hard to believe something like that can happen so quickly. We got out of there.”

Back-to-back Safeway Open champion Brendan Steele and the tour players traveling to Malaysia for the CIMB Classic received word of the wildfires while awaiting their flights out of San Francisco International Airport. Having grown up in the San Jacinto Mountains of Southern California, Steele wasn’t surprised. He had been evacuated from his hometown of Idyllwild several times due to lurking wildfires and remembers his father’s fear of them wiping out his business and home.

Conditions had changed dramatically from when the NBC on Golf Channel reporter, the tour rules official and the tournament champion walked off the North Course at Silverado Sunday afternoon, Steele a two-stroke winner over Tony Finau. The wind had begun blowing in gusts upwards of 50 miles per hour. Maltbie saw fencing blown down, garbage cans flying through the air, and flames dancing on the east side of the golf course. “I ran back in and said, It is time to go now,” Maltbie said. “We just got out of there. It was scary.”

A tent structure built for the 2017 Safeway Open burns on a golf course at the Silverado Resort and Spa. (Photo by Josh Edelson)

So scary that Donna left some of her belongings in the closet just ahead of the mass evacuation. As they made their way down Monticello Road and Silver Rock Trail, their hope was that trees wouldn’t be blown over, blocking the road. Even on Thursday, 100 miles away at their home in Los Gatos, the smell the fumes from Sunday night still lingered with them.

Through Friday, hundreds of thousands of acres around Napa, Sonoma and other areas in that region of Northern California had been burned with 31 people killed, making these the deadliest wildfire in state history.

While going through this escape route, Maltbie exchanged text messages with the host of the tournament, part owner of the resort and his good friend, Johnny Miller. On the property was the house overlooking the 10th green where Miller raised five of his six children. Johnny and his wife, Linda, had downsized to a condo at the part of the course where homes burned to the ground.

Locals look through the remnants of their mother’s home in the Silverado Community, which was burned by the Atlas Fire. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

They evacuated at 1 a.m. to Walnut Creek and learned Monday that their property didn’t sustain damage. Same, thankfully, for the house that belongs to Miller’s son Andy. Unfortunately, though, the home of his daughter, Kelly, was part of a row of houses in the Deer Hallow subdivision that didn’t make it.

“Johnny’s pretty sad,” said John Evans, the resort’s managing director. “He tends to wear his emotions on his sleeve.”

As a 21-year-old amateur, Miller finished second to Miller Barber in the 1969 Kaiser International at the resort before going on to win the event there in 1974-1975. Personally, professionally and financially (as a co-owner and renovator of the resort), he was connected to and invested in the property, which he often, ironically, boasted of having the most amazing aroma from the oak trees.

“Silverado will always be special to me,” Miller told Golf Digest in 2011. “It feels like you’re on vacation when you go home. There aren’t that many people who move to Napa and leave.”

The Silverado Mansion was sparred the fire’s wrath. (Photo by Twitter/@SilveradoResort)

According to Evans, Miller was grateful for the efforts put in to save the resort proper during that harrowing first night. For the most part, the oak trees and the buildings of the resort escaped the type of damage that faced homeowners like Miller’s daughter. By using light generators to pump water, by staying up all night and dousing trees, brush, ground cover and buildings, workers and resort managers were able to save the 130-year-old mansion that serves as the resort’s centerpiece, along with the clubhouse, spa and marketplace that were part of the resort’s renovation in 2010.

If there was a blessing in this, it’s that the wildfires didn’t happen on Saturday night, when 6,000 fans were bussed in to a Goo Goo Dolls concert on the event’s front lawn. “As bad as it was, one day earlier would have been a disaster,” said Jeff Sanders, the tournament’s executive director.

Sanders hadn’t yet seen for himself the aftermath. “I’m still waiting for the yellow tape to come down [this coming Monday],” he said. As of Thursday there still wasn’t power or water at the resort and communications were hampered by a reported 73 cellphone towers downed. The resort is targeting Oct. 27 for a re-opening.

Close to his heart, on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, Steele was sending positive thoughts back to Wine Country. They could certainly use them.

“It was like a war zone around there,” Maltbie said. “It was devastating.”

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