Dan Hicks, voice of NBC golf for 26 years, dies at 64
His wife, broadcaster Hannah Storm, said his death was sudden and unexpected after an acute illness.
Dan Hicks, who led NBC Sports' golf play-by-play coverage for 26 years and also called Olympic swimming and Notre Dame football for the network, has died at 64.
His wife, sports broadcaster Hannah Storm, announced his death on Instagram, saying it was sudden and unexpected after an acute illness. Hicks died Wednesday, according to the PGA Tour.
Details of his illness were not immediately available.
A post shared by Hannah Storm (@espnhannahstorm) on Instagram
Hicks arrived at NBC in 1992 and took over as its lead golf announcer in 2000. His years on air included nearly two decades alongside Johnny Miller and Tiger Woods' 2008 U.S. Open playoff victory.
"Dan was truly one of a kind, and quite simply, the person everyone wanted to be around. When he walked into a room, he brought the energy, the laughter, and the people together," Storm said.
From Tucson to NBC
A Tucson, Arizona, native, Hicks graduated from the University of Arizona and began his broadcasting career in local radio and television. He joined CNN in 1989 and worked there as a sports anchor for three years before moving to NBC Sports in 1992.
At NBC, his assignments extended beyond golf. He covered college football, the NFL, the NBA, the PGA Tour and the Olympics, calling Olympic swimming, alpine skiing and Notre Dame football.
A long run in the golf booth
Hicks, an accomplished recreational golfer, spent 26 years as NBC's lead golf play-by-play announcer after taking the job in 2000. His assignments included the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup, as well as the FedExCup's season-ending Tour Championship.
His broadcast partner Miller was a two-time major champion. The PGA Tour said Hicks offered a measured counterbalance to Miller, who was known for his candid analysis.
At Torrey Pines in 2008, Hicks called Woods' U.S. Open win over Rocco Mediate, a 19-hole Monday playoff that Woods played with leg injuries.
Hicks anchored NBC's weekend broadcasts of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass for three decades. He interviewed Rory McIlroy after McIlroy defeated J.J. Spaun in a playoff at the tournament in 2025. This year, Hicks interviewed PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp during the third round.
Tributes to Hicks
"We are devastated by the sudden loss of Dan Hicks. For more than 25 years leading NBC golf coverage, Dan's voice filled our living rooms with his steady narration of countless golf broadcasts, calling some of the game's biggest moments," the PGA Tour said.
Barrett Media reported that NBC Sports issued a statement from Rick Cordella, Sam Flood and Molly Solomon, calling Hicks "an extraordinary colleague, friend, and person." The statement said he "welcomed teammates with a smile, a joke, or a word of encouragement, sometimes all in the same sentence."
The network said his "blend of knowledge, style, enthusiasm, and humor informed and entertained fans for decades," particularly as "the signature voice of our golf coverage for the last 26 years."
Storm said her husband "was endlessly kind, thoughtful, and funny, and he made everyone feel like they mattered."
"Our three daughters and I are heartbroken. We are grateful for the love and support surrounding our family during this incredibly difficult time," she said, adding that there were no words to express how much he would be missed.
"He was a devoted husband of over 30 years, loving father to our three daughters, and cherished friend to so many. His loss is immeasurable," Storm wrote.
Hicks is survived by Storm and their three daughters. No funeral or memorial plans were immediately available.
"The sound of his voice is woven into our memories of the game, and the warmth he brought to the broadcast was matched only by the kindness he showed those around him," the PGA Tour said in its tribute.
