After nearly 30 years in the broadcast booth for NBC, Johnny Miller will officially hang up his headset to be replaced by Paul Azinger, according to a report from Golfweek.
Miller, who has called golf for the National Broadcasting Company since 1990, hinted at the possibility that he may be calling it quits at the Safeway Open media day in August saying, “It’s been 50 years on the road, and part of me is saying, ‘That’s enough.'”
“It just seemed like a nice round number,” Miller told GolfDigest.com on Monday. “I’ve been on for 50 years with no break. I had my 24th grandchild yesterday. All my friends were retiring, and it got to the point where I was like, ‘Hey, how come I’m not retiring?’ It’s been a great run. I’ve done everything I can do announcing wise.”
Zinger to replace Johnny at NBC while also remaining at Fox. The game will miss Johnny, but Zinger is the ideal replacement. https://t.co/BnU0ZOEkJz
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) October 15, 2018
The 71-year-old two-time major champion has been one of the most outspoken golf analysts of the television age. Never afraid to call out players at the highest level for their deficiencies, Miller has a long line of supporters, but an equally long line of detractors.
Perhaps following in the footsteps of Major League Baseball analyst Alex Rodriguez, Azinger will continue to work USGA events, including the U.S. Open, under the Fox Sports umbrella, but will fill in for Miller alongside Dan Hicks in the NBC booth much more often.
Azinger is 12 years Miller’s junior and boasts a stellar playing record as well, which included 12 PGA Tour victories, among them the 1993 PGA Championship. The Massachusetts native also shares Miller’s outspoken personality, knowledge of the swing and an ability to break down the pressure of elite-level tournament golf in a way that average amateurs at home can understand.
Miller will have his swan song at the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open, a fitting spot for his departure as he won there back-to-back in 1974-75.
