News
Kelly Tilghman leaving Golf Channel after 22 years
Kelly Tilghman is stepping away from Golf Channel after a 22-year run at the network. The Myrtle Beach native has been a less visible presence on air in recent years.
The first woman to serve as play-by-play announcer for a PGA Tour event, Tilghman announced Wednesday that this will be her last week at Golf Channel.
Tilghman began working at the network in 1996 in the tape library, starting just a year after Golf Channel’s inception. Her departure leaves Mike Ritz and Rich Lerner as the only remaining on-air talents from the channel’s early years.
Golf Channel released this statement.
After 22 years, Kelly Tilghman is signing off from Golf Central this Sunday. She has been a trailblazer for female broadcasters and we thank her for her immeasurable contributions. Please enjoy her “A very fond farewell” column. https://t.co/Kd988ZA5lk pic.twitter.com/oxtGVNRCCh
— Golf Channel PR (@GolfChannelPR) March 14, 2018
Tilghman told Golfweek’s Forecaddie she’s not done with television just yet.
“This process was very peaceful for me…I can’t imagine a scenario where I would never be on television again.”
In a farewell letter published on Golf Channel’s website, Tilghman wrote about the decision to step away at Bay Hill.
“It’s the perfect spot for so many obvious reasons. Arnold’s family will be there. My Golf Channel and NBC family will be there. I know you will too, like you always have. I’ll forever cherish the memories we’ve built together.”
You can read her full letter here, which includes the Arnold Palmer anecdote below.
“Enter Arnold Palmer. I’ll never forget that day in the early years when he paid our tiny newsroom a surprise visit. It was an honor to be in his presence. One could only imagine how I felt when he put his hand on my shoulder and whispered, “I hope you believe in this place as much as I do.”
“Yes, Arnold, I did.”
See what GolfWRX members are saying about Tilghman’s departure in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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Foley
Apr 11, 2024 at 5:07 pm
I really don’t get it after what she said about tiger,nasty comments.
What tiger has going on in his life nothing to do with Tillman, when I turned on masters today,I said to my wife is that Tillman that stupid commentator, I quickly tuned the channel, Tillman go get lost
Brandel Duval
Apr 6, 2021 at 3:38 pm
Kelly I wish you the best of luck for you and that giant P E N I S of yours.
steve
Feb 5, 2019 at 4:44 pm
I didn’t like her Tiger comment, what a terrible blunder, what a total idiot, glad she’s gone!
jc
Dec 13, 2018 at 5:41 pm
played her parents course back in the 70s in myrtle beach…now it is a shopping center…gator hole I believe was the name
joro
Jul 6, 2018 at 9:25 pm
if only she could take Rich ‘the schnoz” Lerner with her. Good Luck for the future Ms. Tighlman. Say, I still have the mag with you picture with a noose on the front. lol
Thankgodsheisstillgone
Aug 2, 2018 at 2:59 pm
Not sure what to use the mute button for now??
Bob Jones
Jun 25, 2018 at 11:41 am
Yes, she made she mistakes, but she was always gracious and respectful, a quality lacking in many of the announcers we now have.
steve
Feb 5, 2019 at 4:42 pm
Her “mistake” was not a mistake, rather a disgusting comment and she should’ve been fired immediately. Glad she’s gone, good riddance…
Dave r
Jun 16, 2018 at 9:41 am
Will miss the fine person she was. A whole lot better than hair man Brandel boy or Joe Buck from fox lord these two are the most look at me I’m good at nothing two goofs on tv.
One-Iron
May 19, 2018 at 9:59 am
I literally laughed out loud on some these comments about Kelly Toughman. Thanks for the laughs 😉
ThankGodShe’sGone
Apr 23, 2018 at 6:22 pm
Worked way too hard to sound like a man while doing such a horrible job calling golf. Funny enough, while trying to sound like a man she also pretended to fawn all over Faldo and Palmer…it made no sense. When working the golf central desk she did not work as hard to sound like a man. Thank god she is gone!!! Hope she takes the manlady who is calling nfl football with her.
joro
Apr 4, 2018 at 12:43 pm
Goodbye Kelly, and take the Schnoz with you.
Magavin
Mar 20, 2018 at 11:26 am
Man tough crowd. Hilarious but tough.
joe
Mar 19, 2018 at 1:07 pm
She was very bland with her talking, I could’ve done that job for a nice six-figure salary. Why are TV broadcasters so revered and paid so much $$? Strange.
Kelly also was the dummy who made that racy remark about Tiger, I believe.
Jack Nash
Mar 19, 2018 at 12:10 pm
Keep Kelly and Dump Lerner. He’s a poor man’s (very poor) interpretation of the late Great Jack Whittaker. Lerner is an Overbearing, condescending, know it all, that doesn’t. Asking Rory after his win about working out so hard was a shot at Miller for mentioning during the broadcast that his swing was better pre workouts. Nope, Lerner needs to be dumped. Kelly is much more favorable and even handed as an on air persona.
Greg
Mar 26, 2018 at 12:08 pm
Never heard that comparison before but you are correct – Lerner does remind me of the great jack Whittaker. Good call
Hans Skrillex
Mar 18, 2018 at 11:25 am
Heard she’s a muff diver.
SImms
Mar 17, 2018 at 8:15 pm
Very fine job, MS. Tilghmen, always was very Professional at her job…think about the way she presented herself over the last 20 years compared to the group we see on the Golf Channel now…no comparison…
Vic
Jun 27, 2018 at 2:13 pm
Well said.
Styx Hexanhammer
Mar 16, 2018 at 4:40 pm
LOL
joro
Mar 16, 2018 at 1:50 pm
Goodbye Kelly, and take the Schnoz Lerner with you.
Charlie Daniels
Mar 16, 2018 at 12:36 pm
Her voice is deeper than Darth Vaders, and she has a bulge down low that would make a horse jealous. But really I think you’re all just grasping for straws.
Scott McDonald
Mar 15, 2018 at 10:23 pm
Kelly has been a gracious hostess for many years. Good insight as a former player. Well liked by Tiger and Mr. Palmer. Never tough on players but that was her role. Don’t be a stranger??
Austin Powers
Mar 15, 2018 at 10:16 pm
That’s no woman, that’s a man baby!
Bobby Blanks
Mar 15, 2018 at 12:38 pm
Kelly was a true pioneer and we should always respect what she has done for the golf community. Being the first ever Trans TV personality is tough.
Dalenchmob
Mar 15, 2018 at 10:07 pm
Haha 🙂
John Ford
Mar 15, 2018 at 10:24 am
Wish Kelly nothing but the best in her future endeavours. Hopefully she now has the time to get rid of that pen is of hers.