The PGA Tour Champions, created in 1980, is a fan-favorite event as most golfing enthusiasts are able to see their beloved senior players in a more competitive setting. The Tour is currently in Naples, Florida with its third event, The Chubb Classic. But there, a former winner of the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour Champions, Mark Calcavecchia laid bare something that has major implications on the ’50 and above’ Tour. The PGA Tour Champions is currently being broadcast by the NBC Network and Calcavecchia had some thoughts on NBC’s usage of the current broadcast team comprising of Paul Azinger and Bob Papa.

Paul Azinger was recently brought on the team, after the retirement of analyst Lanny Wadkins at the end of last season. Azinger is an experienced professional, who has graced the PGA Tour with 12 victories during his career. He also won the PGA Player of the Year in 1987. “Paul’s resume as a player speaks for itself and he’s one of the most recognized voices in our sport. He has called the biggest events in golf and knows the players on our Tour well – he’ll be a fantastic addition and we’re thrilled to have him join PGA TOUR Champions.” Miller Brady, president of the PGA Tour Champions said during Azinger’s appointment.

Azinger joined the likes of John Swantek, John Cook, Peter Jacobsen, Billy Ray Brown, and John Maginnes, along with the seasoned Robert Papa. Bob Papa is also an experienced broadcaster, having worked with entities like the New York Giants, ESPN, NBC, HBO, and many more. But the 64-year-old American pro, Mark Calcavecchia, was far from impressed.

The 4-time PGA Tour Champions winner Calcavecchia took to Twitter to express his disappointment at the way the broadcast has set themselves up for the PGA Tour Champions. Paul Azinger and Bob Papa are not on the field for at least 25 of the 28 events that are taking place on the senior golf tour. “I think the fact that @PaulAzinger and @BobPapa_NFL are in a studio for all but 3 events all year is a total embarrassment to our game and @ChampionsTour we can’t be that cheap.”

So with the amount of experience the duo has, it would be an even better experience if they were on the field more often talking to the players, and asking the questions audiences want to hear. According to Calcavecchia, having Azinger and Papa holed in a studio is a disservice to the players on the tour, the fans watching the broadcast, and the duo themselves, as they will be able to do a better job on the field. “These guys can’t be great when they can’t talk to players and be there to see what’s going on.”

Mark Calcavecchia’s request seems to be in line with Justin Thomas’s memo to the PGA where he requested players to be more available for broadcast partners. But there’s a tiny difference: in Calcavecchia’s case, he is requesting the broadcasters to be more player-facing and get into the minds of the process – something senior players are more than able to do. Especially, in tight situations like the ongoing 2025 Chubb Classic, it will be an interesting added incentive for the viewers and the players.

Chubb Classic is proving to be an interesting affair

The 2025 Chubb Classic is heading to the wire. The stakes are high, with a purse of $1.8 million and the winner taking home $270,000. Currently, the American pro Justin Leonard leads the field by a stroke as the action heads to the final day.

The 12-time PGA Tour winner Leonard is looking to register his first-ever win on the PGA Tour Champions. He is currently alone at the top with a score of 11 under par across the two days of action. His day 2 score of 7 under par catapulted him to the top. His closest challenger is the South African golfer Ernie Els. Els is 1 stroke off the lead and is looking to add to his Mitsubishi Electric Championship victory. Els, who has won 7 events at the senior tour, scored 5 under par on the second day to stay within hitting distance of Leonard.

Els had won 4 majors during his time on the PGA Tour, and now will be looking to claim his 8th victory at the PGA Tour Champions by beating Leonard to the top spot. But he does have his work cut out for him. However, his superior experience may very well be the X-factor that changes the tide in his favor at the Tiburon Golf Club in Florida. Can Leonard weather the challenge from Els on the final day?

With high stakes and great action on display, it is no wonder that Calcavecchia is calling for a better effort from NBC to get the viewers what they want. What do you think needs to change from the side of the broadcast? Or is really the players that need to be more open?