Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee will join NBC’s main commentary booth at the U.S. Open this June at Pinehurst No. 2.
NBC, which owns Golf Channel, has yet to name a permanent replacement for Paul Azinger, whose contract was not renewed after last year.
NBC will wheel out a four-man team for the third major championship of the season. While Mike Tirico and Brad Faxon work the odd-numbered holes during prime viewing hours, Chamblee will team up with play-by-play voice Dan Hicks on the even-numbered holes.
It’s the first year NBC is trying an “odd/even system” for hole assignments, NBC Sports president of production Sam Flood said in a news release.
“Our new approach lets our play-by-play announcers give more context for what’s happening, while creating more opportunities for our analysts and on-course reporters to engage with each other and break down the âwhy’ and the âhow’ before and after each moment,” Flood said.
Jim “Bones” Mackay will return as an on-course reporter after the veteran caddie and Justin Thomas parted ways just before the Masters. Roger Maltbie will be back as an on-course reporter along with Gary Koch as an analyst.
