Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch set to leave NBC as part of broadcast "refresh"
Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch became two of the most recognisable voices in golf reporting for NBC Sports, but the network wants to move in a new direction in 2023.
Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch are entering the final weeks of their long and illustrious tenures with NBC Sports as it was confirmed they'd be leaving the network in 2023.
As first reported by Golfweek, NBC wants to "refresh" their team for the new year. Maltbie first joined NBC in 1992 and he was a five-time winner on the PGA Tour himself. Having turned professional in 1973, he won for the first time on Tour in 1975.
The 71-year-old and his colleague Koch, 69, collectively reported for NBC for over 50 years. Koch joined the network in 1997 and he was also a six-time winner on the circuit.
"Either you decide that that's it and I don't want to do it anymore, or it gets decided for you," Maltbie said to Sports Illustrated.
"In this case it got decided for me, and I've got no axe to grind. I mean, 31 years, not too many guys last that long doing this stuff.
I might be biased but I really believe Roger Maltbie & Gary Koch were the best ever in their respective roles as on-course and tower announcers. Pure pros and incredible talents. Words can’t describe how much I’ll miss working with these 2… not to mention the dinners on the road
— Dan Hicks (@DanHicksNBC) November 10, 2022
Hey, @CBSSports - Give Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch a call. Put them on your majors at least. Put Maltbie on 12 and Koch on 14 at @TheMasters and you can't go wrong. https://t.co/kMeHdr1Lp5
— Illinois Golfer (@IllinoisGolfer) November 10, 2022
"So there's a great deal of gratitude. Does it hurt to hear the words? Sure, but, gosh, I saw a lot of great golf. I got to see this guy, Tiger Woods, in full flight, come into his own and play golf like nobody's seen before.
"I've seen a lot, done a lot, been to a lot of great places, met a lot of great people. That's the gratitude part of it."
Dan Hicks, who commentates on the Tour for NBC, described Maltbie and Koch as "the best ever in their respective roles as on-course and tower announcers" in a post on Twitter.
"Roger and Gary have been synonymous with NBC Sports’ golf coverage for decades, having educated and entertained multiple generations of viewers and having made some of the most memorable calls in the history of the game," Golf Channel Executive Producer Molly Solomon told Golfweek.
"Their professionalism and prowess is only exceeded by their character as they have been great teammates and friends to so many of us here. We will be honouring their careers during our coverage of the PNC Championship in December."
