Kevin Kisner talks a good game on NBC — at the ISCO Championship, he's playing one, too | Sports

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kevin Kisner is a TV guy now — lead golf analyst for NBC, armed with a microphone and an opinion. But his clubs are never far from reach.

And this week, at the ISCO Championship at Hurstbourne Country Club, Kisner (the player) is giving the broadcaster something to talk about the old-fashioned way: with his scorecard.

He followed an opening-round 66 with a 69 on Friday to walk off the course in a group tied for fifth at five-under for the tournament. He'll head into the weekend in good stalking position — as they say at Churchill Downs.

"I try to practice while I'm working on TV so I'm not so rusty when I come out here," Kisner said. "I try to hit some balls on the road when I'm doing TV a little bit, so when I get to a tournament, it's all about playing."

It's a strange in-between — part booth, part bag — and this week, Kisner seems perfectly at home in both.

He's also learning the power of his new medium. Al McGuire was a national championship coach in basketball but became a legend behind the mic. John Madden won a Super Bowl and became a football institution in a broadcast truck. Golf has its own line of solid players who became first-rate analysts — a trend that suggests which job might be easier, even if neither is simple.

Kevin Kisner in his analyst role for NBC Sports.
NBC Sports

"I told somebody I'm more famous calling 10 tournaments in the booth than I am playing 400 times on the tour," Kisner said.

That pretty well sums it up — part self-deprecating, part dead-on. But having been in the booth, Kisner knows just how much a win would move the needle. And he's playing well enough to give himself a chance.

"I haven't played well all year," he said. "I've been close, missed a bunch of cuts by one. But I'm here to win. Basically, the only thing that can help my life is to win — so put it all on the line here the next couple days."

Leave it to Kisner to make winning sound like a chore on a to-do list.

He's not here for reps. He's here for a trophy.

Hurstbourne is a welcome venue. Its layout doesn't genuflect to every bomber who steps onto the tee. It demands accuracy and discipline. And the dry, firm conditions have added teeth.

"I felt some good feels on the range on Wednesday afternoon that I kind of went with on Thursday," Kisner said. "Today was a tougher start, and the course is difficult. I never really got it going until the back nine and made some birdies late to turn it back around.

"Bombers have a big advantage on some of the doglegs. They cover some that I can't. I keep whacking trees trying to cover them. But it's so firm you've got to get lucky on some of these bounces to hold the fairways. And everybody's playing from the rough. ... But I think a plotter has as good a chance as a bomber because of how firm it is. If I'm hitting fairways, it's still getting out there pretty good."

In other words, Kisner's game still travels. He's just using a different map.

Part of Kisner's appeal in the booth is that he knows what it's like to grind. Before his four PGA Tour wins — including a WGC Match Play title — he logged more than 100 starts without one. He bounced between tours, lost his card, missed cuts, then clawed his way back.

He knows frustration. Six playoff appearances. One win. He's played in Presidents Cups, finished runner-up in a major and — in 2023 — watched his swing file a missing persons report.

NBC's offer came at the right time. And may have brought him new life.

"They were so supportive of me still playing," Kisner said. "That's why I was willing to negotiate with them. It's a great deal."

His new profile as a commentator has added another benefit: fans. He's been greeted warmly throughout the week at Hurstbourne.

"The fans have been awesome, had a lot of support," he said. "I don't know what they've been doing with a Georgia Bulldog around here, but they seem to love me and hopefully they all come out this weekend. … I appreciate it. People seem to like what I'm doing in the booth and hopefully I can keep that up."

And just maybe, he'll deliver something worth talking about Sunday.

Even if he's the one doing the talking.

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