Tom Abbott
Encyclopedia
Tom Abbott is a broadcaster and sports commentator, best known for his work with The Golf Channel
. He currently presents and commentates the network's European and LPGA Tour coverage, as well as anchoring Golf Central
and reporting for Live From. In 2010, Abbott began hosting The Big Break
.
a suburb of London, England. He attended Wilson's School
, an all boys school in Wallingon Surrey. During his youth, Abbott was a keen golfer, representing Surrey at Junior and Men's level, and also playing for the England School's golf team. In 2000, he was awarded a golf scholarship to Mercer University
in Macon, Georgia
USA. Abbott played on the Men's Golf Team at Mercer, graduating in 2004 with a degree in Media Business.
, helping to create an on-campus television station, Mercer99. He anchored the Mercer Sports show, as well as hosting a Mercer version of American Idol
. While in Macon, he worked with local ABC affiliate WPGA-TV, appearing weekly on the "58 Sports Show". Abbott also spent time with WGCL-TV
in Atlanta, Georgia
as a sports intern. His first full-time broadcasting job came in 2004 with the then brand new CBS
affiliate in Charlottesville, Virginia
, WCAV-TV. Abbott was the affiliate's first ever Sports Anchor, helping to launch, and appearing on the inaugural newscast, for CBS-19 News in November 2004.
. He worked on the news show Golf Central
and also hosted LPGA Tour coverage alongside Laura Baugh
. The Golf Channel UK went off the air on December 31, 2007 but Abbott was retained by the network to work on its US based operation.
In January 2008, he began hosting European Tour coverage as well as reporting and anchoring Golf Central
. Abbott also became the voice behind the Top 10 series for one season. In late 2008, Abbott began appearing on the network's LPGA Tour coverage.
In 2009, Abbott was part of the commentary team for Golf Channel's coverage of the Solheim Cup
from Sugar Grove, Illinois and reported on the announcement of golf's inclusion into the Olympics from Copenhagen
, Denmark
. He was invited to play in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland, one of the game's most exclusive and prestigious pro-am tournaments, where he partnered Finnish golfer Mikko Ilonen
.
In 2010, Abbott replaced Vince Cellini
as host of Golf Channel's hit series The Big Break
.
Abbott is also a regular contributor to golfchannel.com filing a bi-weekly column on the European golf scene.
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...
. He currently presents and commentates the network's European and LPGA Tour coverage, as well as anchoring Golf Central
Golf Central
Golf Central is Golf Channel's news program. It was launched in 1995, in the same year as the network it airs on.A nightly half-hour show, Golf Central features news and highlights from the major golf tours and events of the world, in addition to on-site reports from tournaments.-Format:The show's...
and reporting for Live From. In 2010, Abbott began hosting The Big Break
The Big Break
The Big Break is the Golf Channel's reality television program. The show's premise is to award an aspiring professional golfer exemptions into selected events on certain tours. The series debuted on October 6, 2003, and has become very popular. As of November 2011, Big Break is in its 16th...
.
Early life
Abbott grew up in CheamCheam
Cheam is a large suburban village close to Sutton in the London Borough of Sutton, England, and is located close to the southern boundary between Greater London and Surrey. It is divided into two main areas: North Cheam and Cheam Village. North Cheam includes more retail shops and supermarkets,...
a suburb of London, England. He attended Wilson's School
Wilson's School
Wilson's School is a boys' grammar school in Wallington, in the London Borough of Sutton, UK. Admission is based on performance in an entrance test with around 1,000 pupils being taught there....
, an all boys school in Wallingon Surrey. During his youth, Abbott was a keen golfer, representing Surrey at Junior and Men's level, and also playing for the England School's golf team. In 2000, he was awarded a golf scholarship to Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
USA. Abbott played on the Men's Golf Team at Mercer, graduating in 2004 with a degree in Media Business.
Early career
Abbott began his broadcasting career at Mercer UniversityMercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
, helping to create an on-campus television station, Mercer99. He anchored the Mercer Sports show, as well as hosting a Mercer version of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. While in Macon, he worked with local ABC affiliate WPGA-TV, appearing weekly on the "58 Sports Show". Abbott also spent time with WGCL-TV
WGCL-TV
WGCL-TV, virtual channel 46.1 is the CBS-affiliated television station serving the Atlanta, Georgia area. Its city of license is Atlanta, and the station is owned by Meredith Corporation, making it the largest-market CBS station not owned by the network...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
as a sports intern. His first full-time broadcasting job came in 2004 with the then brand new CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
, WCAV-TV. Abbott was the affiliate's first ever Sports Anchor, helping to launch, and appearing on the inaugural newscast, for CBS-19 News in November 2004.
Golf Channel
Abbott joined Golf Channel in November 2005 as a reporter and presenter for the network's UK Channel, based in Orlando, FloridaOrlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. He worked on the news show Golf Central
Golf Central
Golf Central is Golf Channel's news program. It was launched in 1995, in the same year as the network it airs on.A nightly half-hour show, Golf Central features news and highlights from the major golf tours and events of the world, in addition to on-site reports from tournaments.-Format:The show's...
and also hosted LPGA Tour coverage alongside Laura Baugh
Laura Baugh
Laura Zonetta Baugh is an American golfer, who played the LPGA Tour for 25 years. She is a published writer and golf broadcaster.-Early life, family:...
. The Golf Channel UK went off the air on December 31, 2007 but Abbott was retained by the network to work on its US based operation.
In January 2008, he began hosting European Tour coverage as well as reporting and anchoring Golf Central
Golf Central
Golf Central is Golf Channel's news program. It was launched in 1995, in the same year as the network it airs on.A nightly half-hour show, Golf Central features news and highlights from the major golf tours and events of the world, in addition to on-site reports from tournaments.-Format:The show's...
. Abbott also became the voice behind the Top 10 series for one season. In late 2008, Abbott began appearing on the network's LPGA Tour coverage.
In 2009, Abbott was part of the commentary team for Golf Channel's coverage of the Solheim Cup
Solheim Cup
The Solheim Cup is a biennial golf tournament for professional women golfers contested by teams representing Europe and the United States. It is named after the Norwegian-American golf club manufacturer Karsten Solheim, who was a driving force behind its creation.The inaugural Cup was held in 1990,...
from Sugar Grove, Illinois and reported on the announcement of golf's inclusion into the Olympics from Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. He was invited to play in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland, one of the game's most exclusive and prestigious pro-am tournaments, where he partnered Finnish golfer Mikko Ilonen
Mikko Ilonen
Mikko Ilonen is a Finnish professional golfer.Ilonen was born in Lahti, Finland. He won the 2000 Amateur Championship, and turned pro in 2001. He plays mainly on the European Tour, where he has won two events...
.
In 2010, Abbott replaced 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:...
as host of Golf Channel's hit series The Big Break
The Big Break
The Big Break is the Golf Channel's reality television program. The show's premise is to award an aspiring professional golfer exemptions into selected events on certain tours. The series debuted on October 6, 2003, and has become very popular. As of November 2011, Big Break is in its 16th...
.
Abbott is also a regular contributor to golfchannel.com filing a bi-weekly column on the European golf scene.