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Tuesday 23 OcTOber 2018

NBC hires

Paul Azinger PLAY

to replace

Johnny Miller

By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer BALL!
NBC Sports is hiring Paul Az-
inger as its lead golf analyst
with hopes he can deliver
his own brand of sharp,
candid observations that
made Johnny Miller such
a strong presence in the
broadcast booth for three
decades.
Miller's last tournament will
be the Waste Manage-
ment Phoenix Open the
first weekend in February.
Azinger already has a
steady voice in golf from
10 years at ABC and ESPN,
and the last three years
at Fox Sports for its USGA
events. In a unique ar-
rangement by today's stan-
dards, NBC Sports will allow
Azinger to retain his role at
Fox for the U.S. Open and
U.S. Women's Open.
"Everyone says I've got big
shoes to fill," Azinger said.
"I'm not trying to fill any-
body's shoes. The chal-
lenge is to be yourself. The
action is the action. I don't
mind being blunt. It doesn't
have to be derogatory."
Azinger turns 59 in January,
and he will keep plenty
busy.
Miller reduced his schedule
in recent years and typi-
cally worked only week-
ends for NBC. Azinger, the
1993 PGA Champion and
winning Ryder Cup cap-
tain in 2008, is expected
to do four days of tourna-
ment coverage on Golf
Channel and NBC, along
with contributing to "Live
from the Masters" on Golf
Channel along Mike Tirico,
documentary projects for
Golf Channel and some in- Kershaw works out in shorts on chilly night at Fenway
structional content.
And with the Fox arrange-
ment, he figures to be
among the most promi- Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw warms up in the bullpen, Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, in preparation for Game 1
nent voices from some of of the World Series on Tuesday, against the Boston Red Sox in Boston.
golf’s biggest events. Associated Press
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