Kelly Tilghman
Encyclopedia
Kelly Tilghman is a broadcaster for The Golf Channel
, and the PGA Tour
's first female lead golf
announcer.
Tilghman, who played college golf at Duke University
, works as a course reporter for The Golf Channel, after having served as the main play-by-play announcer during its PGA Tour telecasts. She became an anchor in 2007 when the PGA Tour signed a 15-year deal in which The Golf Channel broadcasts the first three events of the year, weekday coverage of all tour events, and full coverage of the Fall Series and opposite-field events.
to form the lead broadcast team for the majority of the network’s PGA Tour telecasts.
One of the original cast, Tilghman formerly served in such roles as co-anchor for Golf Central, host of Sprint Post Game and Live From … telecasts, as well as a variety of Golf Channel original programs, including Academy Live and The Grey Goose 19th Hole. Tilghman’s early duties included serving as an on-course reporter for the network’s live tournament team.
From 1992-96, Tilghman played professional golf in Australia, Europe and Asia, and also served as a teaching and touring pro. She was brought up in the golf industry with parents who owned and operated a golf course for 22 years. Tilghman earned a scholarship to play on Duke University
's women's golf team, where she won 1990's Lady Paladin Invitational hosted by Furman University
and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History.
during a January 4, 2008 PGA Tour Telecast. In response to co-anchor Nick Faldo
's joke
that younger players should "gang up" on Woods, Tilghman replied "Lynch
him in a back alley". Tilghman was laughing during the exchange with Faldo at the Mercedes-Benz Championship, and Woods' agent at IMG was quoted as saying he didn't think there was any ill intent.
The event continued to be covered by the cable news channels, and civil rights activist Al Sharpton
demanded she be fired immediately. She apologized two days later for her remarks during the final-round broadcast.
On January 9, it was announced that The Golf Channel
had suspended Kelly for two weeks as a result of her comment, a reversal of course from the channel's earlier declaration that she would not be suspended.
Before her suspension was announced, Sharpton spoke earlier on CNN's "Prime News" and continued to push for her firing, saying he wanted to meet with The Golf Channel because the comment was "an insult to all blacks." On January 15, 2008, The Golf Channel re-hired former number one anchor Vince Cellini
raising questions as to whether Cellini was brought back in the event Tilghman did not survive the public outcry for her removal.
In the aftermath of the incident, Golfweek magazine ran a story about the incident, featuring a controversial cover portraying a hanging noose. The choice of imagery was widely criticized, and led to the firing of Golfweek's editor, Dave Seanor.
Since the incident, Kelly has appeared as an announcer on Tiger's Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09
and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10
and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11
video games.
The Golf Channel
Golf Channel, known as The Golf Channel before the July 2008 dropping of The, is an American cable television network with coverage focused on the game of golf. Founded in Birmingham, Alabama, the American headquarters and studio are currently located in Orlando, Florida...
, and the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
's first female lead golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
announcer.
Tilghman, who played college golf at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, works as a course reporter for The Golf Channel, after having served as the main play-by-play announcer during its PGA Tour telecasts. She became an anchor in 2007 when the PGA Tour signed a 15-year deal in which The Golf Channel broadcasts the first three events of the year, weekday coverage of all tour events, and full coverage of the Fall Series and opposite-field events.
Career
Tilghman is a former touring professional who has been with The Golf Channel since its inception and has worked a variety of roles. In 2007, she began her collaboration with lead analyst Nick FaldoNick Faldo
Sir Nicholas Alexander "Nick" Faldo, MBE is an English professional golfer on the European Tour who now mainly works as an on air golf analyst. Over his career, he has won six majors: three Open Championships and three Masters. He was ranked the World No...
to form the lead broadcast team for the majority of the network’s PGA Tour telecasts.
One of the original cast, Tilghman formerly served in such roles as co-anchor for Golf Central, host of Sprint Post Game and Live From … telecasts, as well as a variety of Golf Channel original programs, including Academy Live and The Grey Goose 19th Hole. Tilghman’s early duties included serving as an on-course reporter for the network’s live tournament team.
From 1992-96, Tilghman played professional golf in Australia, Europe and Asia, and also served as a teaching and touring pro. She was brought up in the golf industry with parents who owned and operated a golf course for 22 years. Tilghman earned a scholarship to play on Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
's women's golf team, where she won 1990's Lady Paladin Invitational hosted by Furman University
Furman University
Furman University is a selective, private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. Furman is one of the oldest, and more selective private institutions in South Carolina...
and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History.
Suspension
Tilghman drew criticism for remarks about Tiger WoodsTiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
during a January 4, 2008 PGA Tour Telecast. In response to co-anchor Nick Faldo
Nick Faldo
Sir Nicholas Alexander "Nick" Faldo, MBE is an English professional golfer on the European Tour who now mainly works as an on air golf analyst. Over his career, he has won six majors: three Open Championships and three Masters. He was ranked the World No...
's joke
Joke
A joke is a phrase or a paragraph with a humorous twist. It can be in many different forms, such as a question or short story. To achieve this end, jokes may employ irony, sarcasm, word play and other devices...
that younger players should "gang up" on Woods, Tilghman replied "Lynch
Lynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
him in a back alley". Tilghman was laughing during the exchange with Faldo at the Mercedes-Benz Championship, and Woods' agent at IMG was quoted as saying he didn't think there was any ill intent.
The event continued to be covered by the cable news channels, and civil rights activist Al Sharpton
Al Sharpton
Alfred Charles "Al" Sharpton, Jr. is an American Baptist minister, civil rights activist, and television/radio talk show host. In 2004, he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. presidential election...
demanded she be fired immediately. She apologized two days later for her remarks during the final-round broadcast.
On January 9, it was announced that The Golf Channel
The Golf Channel
Golf Channel, known as The Golf Channel before the July 2008 dropping of The, is an American cable television network with coverage focused on the game of golf. Founded in Birmingham, Alabama, the American headquarters and studio are currently located in Orlando, Florida...
had suspended Kelly for two weeks as a result of her comment, a reversal of course from the channel's earlier declaration that she would not be suspended.
Before her suspension was announced, Sharpton spoke earlier on CNN's "Prime News" and continued to push for her firing, saying he wanted to meet with The Golf Channel because the comment was "an insult to all blacks." On January 15, 2008, The Golf Channel re-hired former number one anchor Vince Cellini
Vince Cellini
Vincent Robert Cellini is a long-time sports broadcaster for radio and television. Most recently, he was an anchor and program host for The Golf Channel. It was reported that his contract was not renewed for 2010.-Early life and career:...
raising questions as to whether Cellini was brought back in the event Tilghman did not survive the public outcry for her removal.
Aftermath
Since the incident, Kelly has appeared as an announcer on Tiger's Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09
The Wii version was nominated for several Wii-specific awards by IGN in its 2008 video game awards, including Best Sports Game, Best Local Multiplayer Game, Best Online Multiplayer Game, Best Use of the Wii-Mote,. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 scored 8.1 on IGN UK compared to 8.5 for the previous year's...
and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 is a golfing simulation video game in the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series developed by EA Tiburon and published by Electronic Arts...
and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 is a golfing simulation video game in the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series developed by EA Tiburon and published by Electronic Arts. It was released in North America on June 8, 2010 for the PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360 and iOS. The game is the first in the series to support the...
video games.