Golf broadcaster lands TV return after shock split

One of the most high-profile broadcasters in professional golf will return to the booth in 2025.

Paul Azinger, who won the 1993 PGA Championship, has told Golfweek that he has signed a one-year deal for next season.

The 64-year-old will replace Lanny Wadkins, who announced his retirement on Friday, as the lead analyst on Golf Channel’s PGA Tour Champions coverage.

Azinger will work on ten to 12 tournaments on the senior circuit, while Peter Jacobsen and John Cook will share the analyst chair outside of his commitments.

“It’s not like a full-time gig or anything, which I don’t want, but to be able to go in there and part-time some golf, some really great golf, it’ll be kind of fun,” Azinger said.

“I’ll just be as candid as I can and enjoy it.”

• Tour chief hopes for ‘different schedule’ in 2026

• Cult hero close to losing PGA Tour card

It comes after the American was left stunned by NBC Sports last December, when the network chose not to renew his contract.

He had covered the PGA Tour for five years, but Peacock is yet to hire his full-time replacement.

“I thought I would do at least one more year and then sign a four-year deal,” he admitted to Golfweek in March.

“They made the offer, my agent said ‘No, we’ll counteroffer the next day.’ And they said, ‘Sorry, we’re moving on.’

“You know, it wasn’t a conversation with me, like, ‘What do you need Zinger? What do we need to do? Here’s our situation. You know, this is why we need you to accept this deal.’

• New inquiry starts over controversial Scottish golf course

• Scottish golf course land considered for 650 homes

“There was no reason, it just was it’s complicated, it’s complicated. I was like, ‘How complicated can it be, bud?’ It’s money.”

According to the report, both Azinger and Golf Channel are back on terms despite the 12-time PGA Tour winner’s departure.

“I hope that that’s water under the bridge and that everyone just moves on,” said Miller Brady, president of PGA Tour Champions.

“I know Paul wants to move on, and we want to move on.”

Meanwhile, an NBC Sports spokesperson said: “Paul has called some of golf’s biggest events and has been a part of the PGA Tour as a player or analyst for more than four decades, and we’re excited to have him bring that experience to the PGA Tour Champions telecasts on Golf Channel.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.