Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch will be leaving NBC this Sunday, at the PNC Championship Orlando. This marks the end of two outstanding broadcasting careers.
Koch, a six-time winner of the PGA Tour, joined NBC in 1997.
Maltbie, five-time winner on Tour, joined NBC in 1992 and has now agreed to host several tournaments for Golf Channel 2023.
“I wake up one morning and say, Why would I do this?’,” Maltbie said pgatour.com. The next day, I wake up and realize that I still enjoy doing this. It’s great fun. So, I’m going for a few more.
Koch, 70, declined a similar offer.
Koch stated that after 26 years in the majors, “I don’t want to work in minors,” referring to being relegated for lesser events. It has to do with money. I don’t really know the reason. They wanted to refresh the team, and they had a 10-15 year plan. But then, they hired Curt Byrum and Brad Faxon, who are both 60-somethings. It’s kinda confusing.”
NBC paid tribute on Saturday to Koch and Maltbie. It featured a video featuring several of their most memorable calls, including Koch’s famous Better than most’ call of Tiger draining a Bomb at the 17 at TPC Sawgrass. Top players also shared what the announcers meant a lot to them. They also appreciated it.
Maltbie, aged 71, said that “it’s been an amazing, long ride.” “Neither of us wants it to end. But that was the decision. It will be a sad day when it all ends.
Here are the thoughts of Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus about Koch and Maltbie. They will be greatly missed.
Roger Maltbie, Gary Koch, thank you.
These Golf Channel icons are being honored by names from all over the game. They broadcast their last event at this weekend’s @PNCchampionship. pic.twitter.com/fkbktjCeLq
Golf Channel (@GolfChannel December 17, 2022
