NBC's U.S. Open broadcast plan boasts some unexpected twists.

Jack Hirsh of Hirsh Hirsh Productions in Hollywood
However, they shouldn’t. So… what happens then? They find out by accident. They investigate. Finally they make contact. But it still comes back around full circle… and so on… and so forth….

Getty Images was among three surprising names chosen as part of NBC U.S. Open broadcast team this year.
Brandel Chamblee will make history this month when she takes up the lead analyst seat for an elite championship tournament for the very first time.

After months of speculation and rotating analysts across its events this season, NBC Sports finally unveiled their broadcast team for one of this season’s two major tournaments — the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst — including longtime Golf Channel pundit Mike Davis as one of two lead color analysts.

Sports Business Journal reporter Josh Carpenter first broke news of Chamblee’s appointment.

Chamblee will join lead play-by-play man Dan Hicks to call even holes during “prime hours”, with Mike Tirico and Brad Faxon calling odd holes during that same coverage period.

“NBC Sports recently adopted an odd/even system for hole assignments among commentator pairings this season,” according to Sam Flood, Executive Producer and President of Production for NBC Sports. This allows their play-by-play announcers more context for what’s occurring while offering our analysts and on-course reporters opportunities to collaborate and break down each moment before and after it happens.

Chamblee will now serve as host for the final hole of the tournament on Sunday.

Since NBC decided not to renew Paul Azinger’s contract last fall, its lead analyst chair has been an ongoing rotation between Chamblee and Kevin Kisner; many believed Kevin Kisner might take over full-time after successful debuts on NBC earlier this year.

Kisner recently stated on Golf Digest’s The Loop podcast that he wasn’t ready to pause his competitive golf career to pursue broadcasting full time just yet.

Flood reported that his son wants to become a golfer, with Flood discussing that when it was time for him to stop playing golf they will discuss it further.

Unfortunately for our wallets and health, many things cannot wait – such as opening our emails. So here we go again…
Kevin Kisner Has Not Won the NBC Golf Job by James Colgan
Golf Digest reported last month that CBS still hadn’t decided upon an official U.S. Open broadcast team as of May, as Kisner, Chamblee, European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald and Jim “Bones’ Mackay were being considered.

Chamblee has become a fixture at majors on Golf Channel’s “Live From” programming, and although no roster was announced Monday for that show’s lineup of analysts or commentators, Chamblee told Golfweek earlier in April he would “love to do both”. In regards to live coverage versus studio show analysis roles.

NBC also announced the return of Mackay, Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch as on-course reporters during live coverage of this event. Mackay’s presence is unsurprising as he recently ended his partnership caddying for Justin Thomas just prior to The Masters Tournament.

Maltbie and Koch’s returns stand out, especially since neither had their contracts renewed after 2022, yet both returned for Thursday- and Friday-morning coverage of The Players Championship this March on NBC.

Flood revealed to SBJ that she and Johnston plan to attend all four days of this tournament due to their success on Players broadcast. She noted the warm reception they have been shown thus far at tournament.

NBC announced they will provide “200 hours or more of coverage during U.S. Open week”, and full programming details would be revealed shortly after that event.

The 2024 U.S. Open will take place June 18-21 at Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, N.C.

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Jack Hirsh
Golf.com Editor
Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor with GOLF magazine. Hailing from Pennsylvania and graduating Penn State in 2020 with degrees in broadcast journalism and political science respectively. Jack was captain of his high school golf team before recently returning as head coach; additionally he still strives to compete competitively among amateurs locally. Prior to GOLF Jack spent two years as Multimedia Journalist/reporter but also produced, anchored and presented weather at TV station Bend Oregon before making the leap over. Jack can be reached directly via his email:jackhirsh@golfcom