Roger Maltbie, a familiar voice for golf fans and NBC sports analyst, is set to return to broadcasting for several notable PGA Tour events in 2026. After NBC and Golf Channel chose not to renew his contract in 2023, Maltbie has secured new deals to cover a mix of tournaments, marking his continued presence on the airwaves during significant golf moments.
Roger Maltbie Secures New Broadcasting Roles for 2026 PGA Tour Events
Roger Maltbie, widely recognized for his memorable commentary such as the phrase,
“It’s just not a fair fight,”
during Tiger Woods’ dominant 2000 U.S. Open victory at Pebble Beach, will be featured on Golf Channel and CBS broadcasts across five PGA Tour events in 2026. This agreement signals Maltbie’s return to the PGA Tour scene on television after NBC and Golf Channel opted not to extend his contract in 2023.
Maltbie’s assignments include events at Pebble Beach, a course close to his Bay Area roots, as well as the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village, marking the 50th anniversary of his victory there. He will also call the new Cadillac Championship at Doral, along with coverage of Bay Hill and The Players Championship. Notably, these events are primarily produced by CBS, a fresh collaboration for Maltbie, whose longtime career was tied to NBC.
“That’s something I am really looking forward to, working with Jim Nantz and the CBS team, because it’s something I’ve never done before,”
Maltbie told Golf Digest.
“We’ve been on opposite deals, so that’s going to be interesting. You know, this is what I like to do. And I do what I’m told to do. Maybe that’s why they still use me some.”
Additionally, Maltbie has signed a separate agreement with NBC to cover senior events such as the U.S. Open, U.S. Senior Open, and the Senior PGA Championship. At age 74, he expressed enthusiasm for continuing in the role he enjoys.
“I’m excited that they still want me to do this, and I guess they feel like I am still someone viewers want to listen to,”
Maltbie said.
“The bottom line is that I want to keep going because I’m a fan of the game.”
Chris Gotterup Joins Elite Group Before Masters Debut
In April, Chris Gotterup will make his Masters Tournament debut at Augusta National, joining a rare group of players who have won four times on the PGA Tour before their first appearance at the famed event. Since World War II, only Dave Hill and Mark Wilson have achieved this milestone.
Gotterup’s PGA Tour wins began with the 2024 Myrtle Beach event, an opposite-field tournament which does not qualify for an automatic Masters invitation. However, his victory at the Scottish Open in July qualified him for Augusta. He has also triumphed at the Sony Open and Phoenix Open, solidifying his status among top contenders.
Historically, Dave Hill won four times in the 1960s but did not debut at the Masters until 1968, and Mark Wilson earned his place at Augusta in 2011 after a series of wins that included the Sony Open and the Phoenix Open. This season’s Masters will also feature four American professionals making their first appearances without prior PGA Tour wins: Sam Stevens, Johnny Keefer, Max Greyserman, and Jacob Bridgeman.
Lucas Glover Returns to Competition Following Shoulder Surgery
Lucas Glover is returning to competitive golf after recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Glover, aged 46, appeared at Pebble Beach for the first time since the BMW Championship in August 2025, marking his return to walking 18 holes post-surgery. His rehabilitation was longer than initially anticipated due to nerve issues discovered after the operation.
“Rehab went great, strength, everything good, but I was still having pain in my swing,”
Glover stated.
“Turns out I had some nerve issues. The scar tissue was pinching on the nerve in pretty much the same location as the labrum.”
Despite the injury, Glover managed to finish 36th in the FedEx Cup rankings in 2025, which secured eligibility for signature events. The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am will be his first tournament of the year.
He added,
“I played through it, and it would come and go. About the spring of ‘25, it didn’t go, it kind of stayed. I had a good enough year I didn’t have to play the fall and thought it was a good time to get it done. The nerve setback was a surprise.”
Glover also sees long-term benefits to the surgery:
“One thing I’m not going to have to worry about in my 50s.”
The Patch Golf Course to Reopen Following Extensive Renovations
The Augusta Municipal Golf Course, affectionately known as The Patch, is scheduled to reopen for public play on April 15, 2026, three days after the Masters concludes. A soft reopening will take place in mid-March for regular players and local high school teams, with private hospitality groups granted access during the Masters week.
The Patch underwent a 16-month renovation led by course architects Tom Fazio and Beau Welling, and includes contributions from Tiger Woods, who designed a nine-hole short course called The Loop within the property. Maintaining accessibility and affordability was a priority: residents’ rate for the 18-hole walking course will be $25 on weekdays and up to $35 on weekends. The Loop will cost $15 for local players.
The facility features a 17-acre practice range equipped with a Trackman range and 20 covered bays, along with a 12-hole Putting Course designed for competitive play.
Matthew Harris Recognized for Lifetime Achievement in Golf Photography
British photographer Matthew Harris, a veteran who has covered 150 major championships and 20 Ryder Cups across 80 countries, will receive the PGA of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award in Photojournalism. The honor will be presented on April 8, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia, shortly before the Masters Tournament.
Harris began his career at a young age, covering his first European Tour event at 19 and working more than 40 years in the field, notably with Golf Illustrated UK. His passion for photography started in 1974 when, at thirteen, he and his parents purchased a Pentax SP1000 camera. Harris placed second in a photo competition a year later with an image of Billie Jean King at Wimbledon.
Among his iconic photographs are those capturing Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy‘s first Masters victories, but the defining moment of his career came from a shot of Seve Ballesteros winning the 1984 British Open at St. Andrews.
Additional Golf Updates and Notable Statistics
This year marks 20 years since Tiger Woods launched the TGR Learning Lab in Anaheim, California, a facility that has benefited over 200,000 students. The Epson Tour has introduced 18-hole qualifying for three Florida events scheduled in March, limiting fields to 36 professionals with two qualifiers per event.
Scottie Scheffler and Chris Gotterup combined for five wins in seven recent PGA Tour tournaments when both competed. Additionally, Elvis Smylie moved from 134th to 77th in the world rankings after his victory at the LIV Golf Riyadh, showcasing the impact of the Saudi-backed league now awarding ranking points.
Anthony Kim’s recent tie for 22nd at LIV Golf Riyadh earned him $203,000, marking his largest prize since 2011 when he finished fifth at the British Open, taking home $293,105.
Reflecting the urgency of new talent striving to break through, James Nicholas expressed after winning the Astara Golf Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour:
“I’ve always been so scared to talk about winning, being scared I’d jinx myself, but we actually talked about it last night. We said it’s actually OK to talk about it. We’re out here to win, we’re out here to get a PGA Tour card.”
