Dan Hicks, NBC Sports' lead golf voice, dies at 64 - Golfweek

Dan Hicks, the longtime voice of golf for NBC Sports, died unexpectedly Nov. 11. He was 64.

Hicks' wife, fellow broadcaster Hannah Storm, posted on social media that Hicks died following an acute illness.

"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 all the people together. He was endlessly kind, thoughtful and funny, and he made everyone feel like they mattered," Storm said in a social media post.

Hicks worked as NBC Sports’ lead golf commentator, called swimming and skiing at the Olympics and returned as the lead play-by-play voice for Notre Dame Football in 2024. He covered the PGA Tour since 2000.

"Dan Hicks was an extraordinary colleague, friend and person," NBC Sports said in a release. "In his 34 years at NBC Sports, he was an exceptional storyteller and caller of games and events who elevated some of the biggest moments in sports history. From Olympic swimming and skiing to Notre Dame football, numerous other high-profile events and especially as the signature voice of our golf coverage for the last 26 years, Dan’s blend of knowledge, style, enthusiasm and humor informed and entertained fans for decades.

"But far beyond his on-air excellence, Dan was a better person who welcomed teammates with a smile, a joke, or a word of encouragement, sometimes all three in the same sentence. Our heartfelt condolences and love to his wife Hannah and his daughters Hannah, Ellery and Riley."

Hicks was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. He graduated from Sabino High School in 1980 and from the University of Arizona in 1984. After starting in radio, he was a weekend sports anchor on KVOA, the NBC affiliate in Tucson, then moved east and started working at CNN in 1989.

Hicks started at NBC in 1992. He was a tower announcer for the network’s golf coverage until being promoted to the lead play-by-play role in 2000. Some of his most memorable calls include Tiger Woods' dramatic putt to force a playoff at the 2008 U.S. Open, as well as the U.S. men's freestyle relay team's remarkable comeback to win swimming gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“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 in a statement. “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. Our hearts are with Dan's family, his wife Hannah, and friends, and with our family at NBC Sports. On behalf of everyone at the PGA Tour, we share their sorrow as we mourn someone who meant so much to this game."

Hicks also covered the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup ― a prominent voice at golf's biggest events this century. He also was a mainstay behind the microphone for the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Versant Media CEO Mark Lazarus also released a statement on Hicks: "I am heartbroken by the sudden loss of our friend Dan Hicks. For decades, I had the privilege of working alongside Dan, but our friendship extended far beyond NBC Sports. Dan was one of the very best at what he did, but what I will remember most is the person he was: a loyal friend and a devoted husband and father. My family and I are thinking of Hannah, their children and the entire Hicks family. We will miss him.”

Hicks is survived by his wife, Hannah Storm, who he married Jan. 8, 1994, and their three daughters: Ellery Marie Hicks, Hannah Hicks and Riley Hicks.