Gary Koch and Roger Maltbie are signing off for the last time from NBC on Sunday at the PNC Championship in Orlando, ending two distinguished careers as broadcasters.
“If I have to go out, I can’t think of anyone I’d rather go out with than Roger,” said Koch, a six-time winner on the PGA Tour who joined NBC in 1997.
Maltbie, who won five times on Tour and joined NBC in 1992, has agreed to do several tournaments for Golf Channel in 2023.
“I wake up one day and say, ‘Why would I do that?’ ’” Maltbie told pgatour.com. “And the next day I wake up and say, ‘I still really like doing this. It’s fun.’ So I’m going to do a few.”
Koch, 70, turned down a similar offer.
“After being in the majors for 26 years, I don’t have much desire to work in the minors,” Koch told Golf Digest, referring to being relegated to lesser events. “I can only think it has to do with money. I really don’t know what the justification is. I was told that they wanted to refresh the team and that they were looking at 10-15 years down the road, but then they hired two 60-something guys [Brad Faxon and Curt Byrum], so it’s kind of confusing.”
After Saturday’s opening round of the PNC, NBC paid tribute to Koch and Maltbie, which included a video of several of their best calls – including Koch’s famous ‘Better than most’ call of Tiger draining a bomb at the 17th at TPC Sawgrass in the Players – and top players sharing what the announcers meant to them. It meant a great deal to them, too.
“It’s been a long, wonderful ride,” said Maltbie, 71. “Neither one of us want it to end, but that decision was made, and so be it. It’ll be a sad afternoon when it’s all done.”
Here’s what the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Lee Trevino and others had to say about Koch and Maltbie, who will be missed.
Thank you, Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch. ❤️
Names from around the game paid tribute to these Golf Channel icons who are broadcasting their last event at the @PNCchampionship this weekend. pic.twitter.com/fkbktjCeLq
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) December 17, 2022
Jack Nicklaus
Tiger Woods
“Gary, probably the call of all calls, right, at 17? ‘Better than most.’ You’ve had an amazing career, not only as a player but as a commentator. You understood us players. You understand how hard certain shots were and couldn‘t have been more descriptive of shots. … We’re going to miss that side of your commentating, your ability to understand us. You get it. Not too many commentators really, truly get it, but you do.
“Well, Rog. I’m going to miss you, especially those shortcuts you used to take in carts. … I do remember a call in 2000 [in the U.S Open at Pebble Beach]—it ‘wasn’t a fair fight’—with that little 6-iron up the hill at No. 6. … You’ve been awesome. The needling I used to get from you here and there on a shot I would hit. I’m going to miss you out there, big guy.”
Lee Trevino
“I’m sorry to see them leave. I tell you, Gary was a hell of a player. … Roger, what can I tell you about Roger? The mustache man. I love him to death. We’re going to miss you guys.”
Billy Horschel
“You guys have been so great to me in my 14 years, the way you covered me. You guys have been fair. You guys are well prepared. You guys come out to the range and talk to the players, so you guys have information. I appreciate that as a player.”
Davis Love III
“Gary, you’ve had a long career. We’re going to miss your voice on the PGA Tour. You’ve been so supportive of me and so many tour players in our career. You were especially nice to me as a rookie … you and Vinny Giles taking me under your wing. I’m going to look forward to playing a lot of golf with you guys at Seminole. … Roger, congratulations on an incredible career. I always knew I was playing well when you would show up. You always made me feel comfortable. You always had a great joke when I was out there grinding it out.”
Webb Simpson
“I still remember the first time you came and followed my group, and I realized I was in a good position if Roger Maltbie is coming to follow me. You made me nervous. … But it’s been great to work with you over the years.”
Justin Thomas
“Y’all are unbelievable people. You’ve put so much time and hard work and effort into the incredible careers you’ve had. I’m going to miss you dearly. I’m going to miss hearing your voice and being able to mess around and hang out with you guys.”
