Paul Azinger, who was born on January 6, 1960, played on four Ryder Cup teams and captained the 2008 U.S. squad to a win at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. The Holyoke, Massachusetts, native won a dozen times on the PGA Tour, including the 1993 PGA Championship at Inverness, beating Greg Norman in a playoff.
He began his broadcasting career in 2005 with ABC and ESPN, and after the network lost its Open Championship broadcast rights in 2015 he joined FOX Sports as their lead golf analyst. He also worked for the BBC at the Masters Tournament for six years.
But Azinger did not return to his role as lead golf analyst for NBC Sports in 2024, ending a five-year relationship between the network and the 12-time PGA Tour winner.
“I always felt like it was my job in the booth to give the viewer a sense of what it takes to deal with the mental and physical challenges of the game,” Azinger continued. “If you play competitive golf, you learn that your mind and body change under stressful conditions and circumstances. The great players understand this and know how to perform and win when the heat is on.”
Azinger will now continue his work on the Miakka Golf Club in Myakka, Florida, as well as with his wife, Toni, on the Azinger Compassion Center in Bradenton, Florida, which supports the One More Child organization.
Here are a number of our favorite moments from ‘Zinger’s career.
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Florida golfer Paul Azinger tosses grass in the air to check the wind direction on the…
Florida golfer Paul Azinger tosses grass in the air to check the wind direction on the first tee at the U.S. Open on Thursday, June 17, 1988 in Brookline, Mass.
PGA: USA TODAY Sports-Archive
Feb 1989; Miami, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Paul Azinger walks to the green during the 1989…
Feb 1989; Miami, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Paul Azinger walks to the green during the 1989 Doral Ryder Open at the Doral Country Club. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
PGA: USA TODAY Sports-Archive
Mar 1990; Miami, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Paul Azinger follows through his swing on the tee…
Mar 1990; Miami, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Paul Azinger follows through his swing on the tee box during the 1990 Doral Ryder Open at the Doral Country Club. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
PGA: USA TODAY Sports-Archive
Mar 1990; Miami, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Paul Azinger eats an apple while sitting on his…
Mar 1990; Miami, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Paul Azinger eats an apple while sitting on his golf bag during the 1990 Doral Ryder Open at the Doral Country Club. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
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Dec 1991: Paul Azinger of the USA chats with Seve Ballesteros of Spain on the practice…
Dec 1991: Paul Azinger of the USA chats with Seve Ballesteros of Spain on the practice green during the Johnnie Walker World Championship at the Tryall Golf Club in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Munday /Allsport
Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch
Paul Azinger celebrates his winning shot at the Memorial Tournament in 1993.
Paul Azinger celebrates his winning shot at the Memorial Tournament in 1993.
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PGA TOUR Archive
Paul Azinger and family, Jack Nicklaus
Paul Azinger and family, Jack Nicklaus
1993 the Memorial Tournament
Photo by Sam Greenwood/PGA TOUR Archive via Getty Images
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Paul Azinger holds up the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 75th PGA Championship in a sudden…
Paul Azinger holds up the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 75th PGA Championship in a sudden death playoff against Greg Norman at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, Aug. 15, 1993.
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Former President Gerald Ford and his wife Betty, second from right, join the President Cup team…
Former President Gerald Ford and his wife Betty, second from right, join the President Cup team members, from left, Tom Lehman, Jeff Maggert, Paul Azinger, Hale Irwin and tour director Tim Finchen during opening ceremonies of the inaugural event at the Robert Trent golf club in Gainesville, Va., Thursday, Sept. 15, 1994.
PGA: Masters Par-3 Tournament – 1999
04/07/1999; Augusta, Georgia USA; Paul Azinger studies his next shot while caddie cleans the ball at…
04/07/1999; Augusta, Georgia USA; Paul Azinger studies his next shot while caddie cleans the ball at the Augusta National Golf Course during the 1999 Masters. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
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Paul Azinger captured his first Tour win in seven years at the 2000 Sony Open. (Associated…
Paul Azinger captured his first Tour win in seven years at the 2000 Sony Open. (Associated Press)
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Tiger Woods, left, and Paul Azinger, right, talk before teeing off on the second hole of…
Tiger Woods, left, and Paul Azinger, right, talk before teeing off on the second hole of a practice round for the Presidents Cup at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2000.
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods: Through the Years
United States Presidents Cup Golf Team (L-R) Captain Ken Venturi, Phil Mickelson, Tom Lehman, Loren Roberts,…
United States Presidents Cup Golf Team (L-R) Captain Ken Venturi, Phil Mickelson, Tom Lehman, Loren Roberts, David Duval, Davis Love III, Paul Azinger, Notah Begay III, Stewart Cink, Kirk Triplett, Hal Sutton, Jim Furyk, Tiger Woods and Assistant Captain Paul Marchand during the 2000 Presidents Cup at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)
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Paul Azinger and Tiger Woods were teammates on the 2002 U.S. Ryder Cup team.
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Paul Azinger gestures as he eulogizes Payne Stewart at the First Baptist Church in Orlando, Fla.,…
Paul Azinger gestures as he eulogizes Payne Stewart at the First Baptist Church in Orlando, Fla., on Oct. 29, 1999.
2008 Ryder Cup – Day 3
Paul Azinger was the last captain to lead the United States to Ryder Cup victory.
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Two-time PGA champion Dave Stockton calls Paul Azinger the “best ever” Ryder Cup captain.
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Paul Azinger celebrates with Team USA after winning the 2008 Ryder Cup.
GOLF: Ryder Cup
August 11, 2008; Bloomfield Township, MI, USA; Ryder Cup Team captain Paul Azinger introduces the eight…
August 11, 2008; Bloomfield Township, MI, USA; Ryder Cup Team captain Paul Azinger introduces the eight members of the American Team; Phil Mickelson (not in photo) Stewart Cink (not in photo) Keny Perry (not in photo) Jim Furyk (not in photo) Anthony Kim (not in photo) Justin Leonard (not in photo) Ben Curtis (not in photo) Boo Weekey (not in photo) during the Ryder Cup Team introductions at Oakland Hills Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports
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Paul Azinger shares the Ryder Cup with fans after his team’s 2008 victory.
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Paul Azinger was able to sell his ’08 American team as underdogs, and the attitude paid…
Paul Azinger was able to sell his ’08 American team as underdogs, and the attitude paid off.
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Paul Azinger on the second hole during the final round of the 2001 Masters.
PGA: Ryder Cup Press Conference
Jan 5, 2008; Lexington, KY, USA; Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger shakes hands with Kentucky governor…
Jan 5, 2008; Lexington, KY, USA; Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger shakes hands with Kentucky governor Steve Beshear prior to the Kentucky Wildcats vs the Louisville Cardinals game at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Frank Victores- USA TODAY Sports
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From left, David Toms, Paul Azinger and Phil Mickelson cross a bridge on the 16th fairway…
From left, David Toms, Paul Azinger and Phil Mickelson cross a bridge on the 16th fairway during the first round of the 91st PGA Championship at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009.
2008 Ryder Cup
United States team captain Paul Azinger and members of the team after winning the 2008 Ryder…
United States team captain Paul Azinger and members of the team after winning the 2008 Ryder Cup at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. (Photo: David J. Phillip/Associated Press)
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Mike Tirico and Paul Azinger will anchor ESPN’s coverage of the 2015 British Open.
Syndication: USATODAY
Paul Azinger replaces Johnny Miller as the main voice in golf for NBC and Golf Channel,
Paul Azinger replaces Johnny Miller as the main voice in golf for NBC and Golf Channel,
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ESPN’s Mike Tirico and Paul Azinger
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U.S. team captain Paul Azinger, right, and members of the team hold the Ryder Cup trophy…
U.S. team captain Paul Azinger, right, and members of the team hold the Ryder Cup trophy after winning at the Valhalla Golf Club in 2008.
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Paul Azinger poses for a photo during the NBC Golf Channel telecast during the 2023 Players…
Paul Azinger poses for a photo during the NBC Golf Channel telecast during the 2023 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo: Ben Jared/PGA tour via Getty Images)
BMW International Golf Open – Press Conference
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Paul Azinger throws out the first pitch before Game 2 of the American Leaugue Divisional Series…
Paul Azinger throws out the first pitch before Game 2 of the American Leaugue Divisional Series (Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays) at Tropicana Field on Oct. 3, 2008 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The Samsung Experience At The PGA Championship 2015
SHEBOYGAN, WI – AUGUST 15: Paul Azinger tests out the PGA Championship TV App at The…
SHEBOYGAN, WI – AUGUST 15: Paul Azinger tests out the PGA Championship TV App at The Samsung Experience during the PGA Championship 2015 at Whistling Straights Golf Course on August 15, 2015 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Samsung)
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MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 21: NBC Sports golf analyst Paul Azinger poses for a picture…
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 21: NBC Sports golf analyst Paul Azinger poses for a picture during the first round of World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship at Club de Golf Chapultepec on February 21, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
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Holding the trophy for the 37th Ryder Cup, European captain Nick Faldo, left, and United States…
Holding the trophy for the 37th Ryder Cup, European captain Nick Faldo, left, and United States captain Paul Azinger pose for the media Monday, Oct. 22, 2007 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brian Bohannon) ORG XMIT: KYBB102
2001 Memorial
Paul Azinger and Tiger Woods chat on the third hole of the 2001 Memorial at Muirfield…
Paul Azinger and Tiger Woods chat on the third hole of the 2001 Memorial at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo: David Maxwell/AFP via Getty Images)
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ORG XMIT: AUH127 Tiger Woods and Paul Azinger, from Bradenton, Fla., joke together as they wait…
ORG XMIT: AUH127 Tiger Woods and Paul Azinger, from Bradenton, Fla., joke together as they wait to tee off on the eighth hole during second round Masters play at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Friday, April 11, 1997. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta) [Via MerlinFTP Drop]
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Tiger Woods, left, and Phil Azinger have a light hearted moment as they relax while waiting…
Tiger Woods, left, and Phil Azinger have a light hearted moment as they relax while waiting to tee off on the 18th hole during the opening round of the 2001 Mercedes Championship played at the Plantation Golf course in Kapalua, Hawaii, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2001. Both Woods and Azinger finished the day with 3-under-par 70.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) ORG XMIT: KPX106
PRESIDENTS CUP
U.S. golf team members (top row-L to R) Paul Azinger, Tiger Woods, Hal Sutton, Kirk Triplett,…
U.S. golf team members (top row-L to R) Paul Azinger, Tiger Woods, Hal Sutton, Kirk Triplett, Loren Roberts, Davis Love III and Phil Mickelson, (bottom row L-R), Jim Furyk, David Duval, Notah Begay III, Team captain Ken Venturi, Team captain’s assistant Paul Marchand, Stewart Cink and Tom Lehman pose with the Presidents Cup trophy after defeating the International team at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia. (Roberto Schmidt / AFP)
2008 Ryder Cup
USA captain Paul Azinger is sprayed with champagne after defeating the Europeans on day 3 of…
USA captain Paul Azinger is sprayed with champagne after defeating the Europeans on day 3 of the 37th Ryder Cup at the Valhalla Golf Club in 2008. (Photo: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports)
Paul Azinger
Paul Azinger won the 2013 tournament at the Inverness Golf Club in Ohio, USA. (Photo: David…
Paul Azinger won the 2013 tournament at the Inverness Golf Club in Ohio, USA. (Photo: David Cannon/Allsport)
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods: Through the Years
GAINESVILLE, : US golf team members (top row-L to R) Paul Azinger, Tiger Woods, Hal Sutton,…
GAINESVILLE, : US golf team members (top row-L to R) Paul Azinger, Tiger Woods, Hal Sutton, Kirk Triplett, Loren Roberts, Davis Love III and Phil Mickelson, (bottom row L-R), Jim Furyk, David Duval, Notah Begay III, Team captain Ken Venturi, Team captain’s assistant Paul Marchand, Stewart Cink and Tom Lehman pose with the Presidents Cup trophy. AFP PHOTO ROBERTO SCHMIDT
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Paul Azinger celebrates his winning shot at the Memorial Tournament in 1993. (Photo by Columbus Dispatch)
Paul Azinger Fox Sports behind the scenes at the 2016 US Open at Oakmont Country Club
Paul Azinger, pictured during Fox’s telecast of the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont
PGA: Presidents Cup – Day Three Rounds
Sep 24, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Paul Azinger holds up a fish at the lake…
Sep 24, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Paul Azinger holds up a fish at the lake near the 14th hole during the foursomes match play of the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Quail Hollow Club. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
2022 Presidents Cup
Paul Azinger tosses a fish into the lake near the 14th hole during the foursomes match…
Paul Azinger tosses a fish into the lake near the 14th hole during the foursomes match play of the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Quail Hollow Club. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Waste Management Phoenix Open – Round Three
NBC’s golf broadcasters Johnny Miller, Paul Azinger, and Dan Hicks pose for a photo opportunity following…
NBC’s golf broadcasters Johnny Miller, Paul Azinger, and Dan Hicks pose for a photo opportunity following Miller’s final live broadcast during the third round of the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Tour Championship
Paul Azinger (L) and Dan Hicks of the Golf Channel appear on set during the second…
Paul Azinger (L) and Dan Hicks of the Golf Channel appear on set during the second round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on August 23, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
