Roger Maltbie

American professional golfer

Roger Lin Maltbie (born June 30, 1951) is an American professional golfer and on course analyst for NBC Sports.

Maltbie was born in Modesto, California and grew up in San Jose. He attended James Lick High School where he was a teammate of former PGA Tour player Forrest Fezler.

Maltbie attended San Jose City College (1970–1971) and then San Jose State University. He was a member of the golf team at both institutions.

Maltbie turned professional in 1973 and joined the PGA Tour in 1974. He played on the Tour full time from 1975 to 1996. He won five official tour events between 1975 and 1985, including back to back wins in his first full year. After his win at the 1975 Pleasant Valley Classic, Maltbie left his $40,000 winner's check behind in a bar. In his second year on tour, Maltbie won the inaugural Memorial Tournament by defeating Hale Irwin on the fourth hole of a sudden death playoff. On the playoff's third hole, an errant shot by Maltbie seemed headed for the gallery when it hit a stake causing the ball to bounce onto the green instead. Maltbie had 55 top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour. In 1985, he won two tournaments, earned $360,554, and finished 8th on the money list. His best finish in a major was T4 at the 1987 Masters Tournament. Maltbie calls losing that tournament the biggest disappointment of his career. Maltbie began play on the Senior PGA Tour after turning 50 in June 2001. His best finish at this level is a 20th at the 2003 Bayer Advantage Celebrity Pro Am.

Since 1991, Maltbie has worked as an on course reporter and analyst for NBC Sports. In this role, he has become well known as a jovial good natured figure. His signature element is a "golf whisper," necessitated by the fact that Maltbie generally stands much closer to the green than other on course reporters. During the 2002 and 2009 U. S. Opens, both contested at Bethpage State Park on Long Island, NBC ran features in which Maltbie spent a night camping out with several golfers while waiting in the infamous line to play Bethpage's Black Course, the first municipal course to host the U. S. Open.

Maltbie and wife, Donna have two sons, Spencer and Parker. He is a San Francisco 49ers fan and owns several Super Bowl rings given to him by former owner Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr.