Tiger Woods has broken his silence on the death of his longtime friend, NBC sportscaster Dan Hicks.
“Dan Hicks was beloved by all who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside him. His kindness, warmth, and presence will be deeply missed,” Woods, 50, wrote via X on Friday, November 13.
“Like so many in the golf world, Dan was a great friend to me both on and off the course,” he continued. “I had the utmost respect for him and the incredible job he did for our sport for decades.”
Woods then shared his support for Hicks’ wife, ESPN anchor Hannah Storm, and their kids, Hannah, 29, Ellery, 28, and Riley, 25.
“Our thoughts are with Hannah and their daughters during this incredibly difficult time,” he wrote. “I hope they find comfort in knowing how much he meant to so many people and the lasting impact he made on everyone whose life he touched.”
Hicks died on Wednesday, November 11, at age 64. His wife revealed that he died of “an acute illness.”
“He was a devoted husband of over 30 years, loving father to our three daughters, and cherished friend to so many,” Storm, also 64, wrote via Instagram on Thursday, November 12. “His loss is immeasurable.”
Storm continued, “Dan was truly one of a kind and, quite simply, the person everyone wanted to be around. When he walked into the room, he brought the energy, the laughter, and the people together. He 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 concluded, “There are simply no words to express how much he will be missed.”
NBC Sports also released a statement on Thursday, calling Hicks “an extraordinary colleague, friend and person.”
“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,” the statement read. “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.”
Hicks joined NBC in 1992 and became the network’s lead golf play-by-play announcer in 2000.
The network added, “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.”
