"Never heard of you": Kevin Kisner claps back at golf critic trolling his Open broadcasting logic

Jul 20, 2026, 4:39 AM CUT

September 26, 2025, Farmingdale, Ny, United States: FARMINGDALE, NY - SEPTEMBER 26: Kevin Kisner United States Vice Captain walks to the tee box on hole 10 during the Ryder Cup - Afternoon Fourball Matches at Bethpage Black Golf Course on September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, NY. Farmingdale United States - ZUMAt139 20250926_aaa_t139_019 Copyright: xAlxChang/IsixPhotosx

Kevin Kisner has never been shy about saying what he thinks. On Sunday at The Open, someone pushed back, and Kisner pushed right back harder.

During the final round of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 19, golf writer Kyle Porter posted on X, pointing out what he saw as a contradiction in Kisner's NBC broadcast commentary.

Kisner, NBC's lead golf analyst, fired back directly at Porter on X on July 19.

"I seriously don't get you and how you pick and choose what you use of what I say to attack me," Kisner wrote on X. "I've never met you or heard of you. I also said that only 5 of the last 18 guys broke par yesterday, and only two lower than 68. So that makes total sense to me."

The 1994 US Open Championship The U.S. Open Championship Scoreboard A classic scene at the U.S. Open, where the scoreboard displays the intense competition and ever-changing standings. The tension builds as players battle for the title, with every shot contributing to the race for the coveted U.S. Open trophy. USA 1994 Copyright: xMarkxNewcombex

Porter noted that Kisner said he'd personally take minus-10 if he were Sam Burns. He was feeling confident that score would win, then said 15 minutes later that Bryson DeChambeau, sitting four shots back, was "just a little too far back."

Kisner provided that context in his reply. Porter's original post did not include the scoring data. DeChambeau, at four back, needed something special to overcome the tough scoring conditions at Royal Birkdale, which Kisner had already flagged on air.

This isn't Kisner's first run-in with public criticism over his broadcasting. In April, he torched CBS's Masters coverage on the Fore Play podcast, saying the network was "showing s--- that I knew happened 10 minutes ago all day long." He later apologised, saying he "went too far." CBS's team was described by one source to Front Office Sports as "mortified and infuriated."

Ryan Fox won The Open at Royal Birkdale with a score of 10-under. Sam Burns finished outside the top 10. Bryson DeChambeau could not make the strong finish Kevin Kisner said he needed.

Kisner's broadcasting record has been anything but quiet since joining NBC

NBC chose the 42-year-old as its lead golf analyst before the 2025 season. He took over a role once held by golf legends Johnny Miller and Paul Azinger.

He won four PGA Tour titles during his 18-year career. He reached a career-high world ranking of No. 14 in 2016. He still plays a limited PGA Tour schedule while working as a TV analyst.

When NBC announced his hiring in December 2024, Kisner said he wanted to bring a fresh and different voice to the broadcast.

"I'm looking forward to offering a different voice and adding a new dynamic to the broadcasts, hopefully reaching more fans and telling things like it is," he said. "That's what I think I do best."

The Masters controversy in April and Sunday's exchange on X are two separate occasions where Kisner's public comments drew attention.

Kisner splits his time between NBC, the TGL indoor simulation league with Jupiter Links Golf Club, and the Fore Play podcast on Barstool Sports.

Do you think Kisner's broadcasting logic at The Open was fair? Tell us in the comments!

Written by

Sneha Abraham