Roger Maltbie, Gary Koch won’t return to NBC golf broadcasts in 2023 as network looks to ‘refresh’ its team
It’s the end of an era for NBC and Golf Channel.
Golfweek has confirmed that both Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch won’t be returning to broadcasts in 2023. The network told Maltbie and Koch the decision was made to “refresh” the team for the future.
“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,” said Golf Channel Executive Producer Molly Solomon via a statement to 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 honoring their careers during our coverage of the PNC Championship in December.”
Maltbie was originally told 2021 would be his last year before Jim “Bones” Mackay left his on-air role with the network to caddie for Justin Thomas. He returned as an on-course reporter for 2022 but wasn’t renewed for 2023. A five-time winner on the PGA Tour, Maltbie, 71, had been covering golf for NBC Sports since 1992.
Koch, 69, joined NBC Sports full-time in 1997 after he debuted as a course reporter at the 1996 Players Championship and U.S. Open. The six-time winner on Tour was an analyst in the tower for the network’s PGA Tour and major championship coverage.
Not only did they work together on-air, but the pair also teamed up to win the PGA Tour Champions’ Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf three times in the Raphael Division in 2003, 2008 and 2009.
