NBC Sports and Golf Channel set to appoint two new faces for 2023

Smylie Kaufman and Brad Faxon are set to join the broadcast team at NBC Sports and Golf Channel following the departure of Gary Koch and Roger Maltbie.

As first reported by Golfweek, Faxon is set to take on a tower assignment and work on shows such as "Live From" which take place at major championships.

Faxon, an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour and two-time US Ryder Cup participant, has often worked on broadcasts for Sky Sports and he was the lead golf analyst for Fox Sports for five years.

The 61-year-old works for World No.1 Rory McIlroy as his putting coach. NBC Sports is expected to make announcements about their new-look broadcast team shortly.

 

 

 

 

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Kaufman first joined the PGA Tour in the 2016 season. He won for the first time that year at the Shriners Children's Open and made four top 10s in total.

Kaufman, 31, has previously worked for ESPN, Golf Channel and on NBC's Peacock coverage of the US Open. He is set to become an on-course analyst to cover the PGA Tour's new, revamped schedule in the new year.

"We're focused on celebrating Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch at the PNC Championship later this month and will be announcing any additional changes to our lineup early in the new year," an NBC Sports spokesperson said.

Golfweek also reported that Curt Byrum will replace the void left by David Feherty after his move to LIV Golf. Byrum will join the 'super tower' and Justin Leonard will focus his attention on the Champions Tour instead of broadcasting duties.

Byrum is a one-time winner on the PGA Tour and he has worked for Golf Channel since 2001. As for Leonard, he played just four times on the veteran's tour in 2022 and aims to now play full-time.