News
Tilghman has Southwest Airlines Moment
Kelly Tilghman had a "wanna get away" moment on the air last week when she suggested young challengers to Tiger Woods might want to "lynch him in a back alley". Oops. Add Ms. Tilghman’s name to that of Gary McCord, Ben Wright, Rick Barry among others who have forgotten to keep a filter tightly in place while on the air or during an interview. Mr. Woods, who said Ms. Tilghman is a friend, considers the case closed. No harm no foul. The Golf Channel is to be commended for taking quick action in suspending Ms. Tilghman for two weeks (one would have been sufficient).
The response to this is over reaction, but hey we live in an over reactive world where there are hundreds of folks with nothing better to do than watch television waiting for screw ups to occur. I feel for Ms. Tilghman as she’s taken an undo amount of criticism since she assumed her host duties at Golf Channel. Thankfully they didn’t fire her. She’s learned a hard lesson in a very public and painful manner.
Even the Rev. Al Sharpton found this as a means to get himself in the papers again, agitating for her firing. Fortunately cooler heads prevailed. What I do find interesting is her choice of words. The word lynch is one of those I learned not to use because of the images it conjures of a painful past. Perhaps this is a sign of age on my part as there seem to be many words once offensive in common use today. The historical reference I have for such words appears lacking in todays generation. Perhaps a failing of the educational system, which has chosen other standards, thus altering perspective of times and actions long since past. I don’t know.
I do know that live television is the hardest of the hard, and a golf broadcast is one of the toughest because of the length of time one is on air. The focus and concentration needed are tremendous because of the need to filter what is about to be said thoroughly before actually allowing the words to be spoken. I have had to work myself on activating and using that filter both professionally and in my home life. Those who know me well are aware that what’s inside the head will come out unedited more often than not to my chagrin. I don’t do live television (thankfully for everyone) and yet have had many "wanna get away" moments. As have we all. This incident is over, time to move on to the next event.
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Morning 9: Wyndham Clark on back injury | DiMarco’s bold Champions Tour take | Houston Open photos
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News
Four books for a springtime review
One thing that never changes over time: snowy evenings give purpose to reading (is it the other way around?) It has been a snowy 2024 in western New York, and I’ve had ample time to tuck into an easy chair with a blanket, coffee, and a book. You’re in luck, because despite the title of this piece, I’ll share five books and their worth with you.
There is great breadth of subject matter from one to five. Golf is as complicated as life, which means that the cover of the book isn’t worth judging. The contents begin the tale, but there is so much more to each topic presented within. If you’re like me, your library grows each year. Despite the value of the virtual, the paper-printed word connects us to the past of golf and humanity. Here’s hoping that you’ll add one or more of these titles to your collection.
Hughes Norton interviewed with Mark McCormack for 20 minutes (30 if you count the missed exit at Logan International) while driving the founder of IMG from Harvard to the airport. The lesson of taking advantage of each moment, of every dollar, because you might not get another opportunity, is the most valuable one that life offers. I say to you, be certain to read this book, because another opportunity to bend the ear of Hughes Norton may not come our way.
Hughes Norton was with Tiger Woods for waaayyy fewer years than you might guess, but they were the critical ones. Be warned: not all of the revelations in this tome are for the faint of heart. Some, in fact, will break your heart. Golf was a sleepy hamlet in the 1990s, until the 16-lane interstate called Eldrick “Tiger” Woods came into town. Everything changed, which meant that everything would change again and again, into eternity. Once the ball starts rolling, it’s impossible to stop.
My favorite aspect of this book is its candor. Hughes Norton is well into his time on Planet Earth. He has no reason to hold back, and he doesn’t. My least favorite aspect is that George Peper got the call to co-author the book (and I didn’t.) Seriously, there is no LFA for me, so this is the best that I could do.
Decision: Buy It!
The Golf Courses of Seth Raynor
Michael Wolf, James Sitar, and Jon Cavalier, in abject partnership, collaborated to produce a handsome volume on the work of gone-too-soon, engineer-turned-golf course architect. Seth Raynor was pulled into the game by Charles Blair MacDonald, the crusty godfather of American golf. Raynor played little golf across the 51 years of his life. His reason? He did not wish to corrupt his designs with the demands and failings of his own game.
Jon Cavalier began his photography career as a contributor to the Golf Club Atlas discussion group. I met him there in a virtual way (we still have yet to shake hands) and have exchanged numerous emails over the years. Despite the demands of his day job, Cavalier has blossomed into the most traveled and prolific course photographer alive today. His photography, both hand-held and drone, makes the pages pop. Michael Wolf invited me and two friends to play his home course, despite having never met any of us in person. His words, melded to those of James Sitar, are the glue that connect Cavalier’s photos.
My favorite aspect of the books is the access it gives to the private-club world of Raynor. Fewer than five of his courses are resort or public access, and knowing people on the inside is not available to all. My suggestion? Write a letter/email and see if a club will let you play. Can’t hurt to try! My one complaint about the book is its horizontal nature. Golf is wide, but I like a little vertical in my photos. It’s not much of a complaint, given the glorious contents within the covers.
Decision: Buy It!!
Big Green Book from The Golfer’s Journal
Beginning with its (over)size, and continuing through the entire contents, there is no descriptor that defines the genre of the Big Green Book. It is photography, essay, layout, poetry, graphics, and stream of consciousness. It harnesses the creative power of a lengthy masthead of today’s finest golf contributors. Quotes from Harvey Penick, verse from Billy Collins, and prose from John Updike partner with images pure and altered, to immerse you in the diverse golf spaces that define this planet.
One of my favorite aspects is the spaces between the words and photos. Have your friends and others write a few notes to you in those blank areas, to personalize your volume even more. One aspect that needs improvement: the lack of female voices. I suspect that will be remedied in future volumes.
Decision: Buy It!!!
Troublemaker and The Unplayable Lie
Books that allege discrimination and mistreatment check two boxes: potentially-salacious reads and debate over whose perspective is accurate. In the end, the presentation of salacious revelation rarely meets the expectation, and the debate over fault is seldom resolved. Lisa Cornwell spent years as a competitive junior and college golfer, before joining The Golf Channel as a reporter and program host.
Despite the dream assignments, there were clouds that covered the sun. Cornwell documents episodes of favoritism and descrimination against her, prior to her departure from The Golf Channel in 2021. Her work echoes the production of the late Marcia Chambers, who wrote for Golf Digest in the 1980s and 1990s. Chambers took issue with many of the potential and real legal issues surrounding golf and its policies of access/no access. Her research culminated in The Unplayable Lie, the first work of its kind to address issues confronted by all genders and ethnicities, and immediately predated the professional debut of Tiger Woods in 1997.
My favorite aspects of the two works, are the courage and conviction that it took to write them, and believe in them. My least favorite aspects are the consistent bias that many groups continue to face. Without awareness, there is no action. Without action, there is no change.
Decision: Buy Them!!!!
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.
As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.
General Albums
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Thorbjorn Olesen – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ben Silverman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jesse Droemer – SoTX PGA Section POY – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- David Lipsky – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Martin Trainer – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Zac Blair – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jacob Bridgeman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Trace Crowe – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Daniel Berger – WITB(very mini) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Chesson Hadley – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Callum McNeill – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Rhein Gibson – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Patrick Fishburn – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Raul Pereda – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Pullout Albums
- Tom Hoge’s custom Cameron – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Piretti putters – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ping putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Kevin Dougherty’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Bettinardi putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Tony Finau’s new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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fcento
Jan 13, 2008 at 10:13 am
First off, I can’t believe Arnold Palmer would stand by and let Kelly be suspended after all apologies were given and received. If Tiger made a public statement about this it would go away. Maybe alls not well in that friendship. As a viewer of the Golf Channel since it’s inception, BRING BACK KELLY IMMEDIATELY!
Young04
Jan 12, 2008 at 6:49 am
I agree with everyone’s opinion here that it’s being blown out of proportion. I do think, however, that the punishment that she received is just. The term, “lynch”, undoubtedly has negative racial connotations – anyone who denies that is living in their own little vacuum. That said, while I’m an advocate of free speech, I do recognize that broadcasters (especially for golf) are under a higher level of scrutiny. The Golf Channel can ill afford to have their announcers tossing around potentially offensive terms, even if it’s done with nary of ill-intent. This is different than the Imus thing, in my opinion, because Imus is paid to stir controversy. We expect public announcers to have a high degree of decorum, and it’s arguable that she breached that code of conduct.
Craig
Jan 12, 2008 at 3:48 am
Her suspension and the coverage that this comment attracted borders on the bizarre. Karen has my full sympathy, Golf Channel is a Joke for this. A poor reflection of where our society has headed.
Martin
Jan 11, 2008 at 10:16 pm
You know lynching is a word that was used long before slavery in the USA, just check WikiPedia. It happened in countries all over the world. I was taught growing up that “Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”. Why is this world so crazy over a word that was said tongue in cheek. It’s a world gone mad and one that will never move forward as long as people continue to live in the past. I’m sure if we all look back into the history of our ancestors we would find some form of prejudice or violence regardless of race, creed or color. We just don’t have loud mouths like Al Sharpton keeping it alive.
shawn
Jan 11, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Don,
We are saying the some thing, intolerence and ignorance are by products…Ignorance is the start of it all..Looking for offense, yet another by product…..your stats, ingnorance that continues the cycle.
Mark
Jan 11, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Some of these responses are pretty shocking.
Do you guys think jokes about rape are okay too, as long as there is no intent or malice intended? If someone in an office made a joke about the a woman getting raped so loud that all female employees could hear, what would happen to him or her?
Some sensitivity for the feelings of others in life is required.
Do I think Tilghman should have been suspended, no she apologized and that was enough in my book. However, this will make sure it’s a lesson well learned. As others have pointed out, using Sharpton as a scapegoat is poor form.
Barry
Jan 11, 2008 at 9:09 pm
“The response to this is over reaction, but hey we live in an over reactive world …”
This is precisely why we live in an over-reactive world. Normal people just toss up their hands, and the Al Sharptons of the world get exactly what they want (again).
The ridiculous punishment of Ms. Tilghman puts is a step away from racial equality, not toward it. What a cowardly act by the Golf Channel.
Don
Jan 11, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Kelly unintentionally used verbage which some people were offended by. Lynching has not been used in comedy enough to desensitize people to the violent imagery of someone hanging. Ironically, if she had said, “Vijay, Phil, and Ernie need to jump the the courtesy car and do a drive by on Tiger at the range” no one would have batted an eye even through young, black males have killed far more young, black males in this manner (and continue to do so today) than were ever hung by ignorant, white racists.
“…ignorance is the driver of racial tension…”, no Shawn, intolerance and looking for offense is the driver of racial tension.
shawn
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Comments by some of the folks in this forum are insensitive and ignorant. Just like Kelly’s….who by the way I like on TGC and in general. See the point is that ignorance is the driver of racial tension from the start. She had a bad choice of words….it was insensitive and ignorant. As a black man, there is a sensitivity to that reference given that many of my ancestors met such a fate and the thought of it is painful. Don’t minimize the insult by deflecting to Sharpton who points out these things regardless of his personal style.
Andrew M.
Jan 11, 2008 at 6:27 pm
What this article fails to mention is that Ms. Tilghman apologized to the viewers publicly and to Tiger Woods privately, Tiger’s camp responded graciously and that WAS the end of it. The Golf Channel’s original position was to NOT take any disciplinary action against Ms. Tilghman. Once Al Sharpton injected his poison on CNN, The Golf Channel BUCKLED less than three hours later, deciding to suspend Ms. Tilghman. THAT is where I have a problem with this incident. No one can argue that this wasn’t a poor choice of words. I think you’d be hard pressed to find someone that actually believes Ms. Tilghman to be a racist. We cannot allow people like Al Sharpton (who continue to drive a wedge between the races in this country) to feed the fire instead of extinguishing it. If The Golf Channel had decided to suspend Ms. Tilghman from the start, and Al Sharpton got involved in the same manner, would they have backpedaled and fired her? We can only speculate, but The Golf Channel should NOT have played ball with the likes of Sharpton, and I will be watching less and less of that channel as a result.
Jim
Jan 11, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I agree with the Golf Channel and their position with the issue/comment. Her and Tiger have put the issue at rest, thus there should be no more mention of this incident. The situation was handled like it should have been…”I’m sorry…Apology accepted…DONE” Tiger and her will continue to be friends.
As for you know who…Al Sharpton, well let me hold my tounge, but this guy needs to mind his own and worry about his life and the people looking over his shoulder. All he ever wants to do is hear his voice over the airwaves and see how much controversy he can stir up. I am surprised that he is not hanging around coffee shops waiting for customers to say…Coffee…black please, slobbering at the opprotuniy to play the race card.
Al, If you want to help, go over to Southeast Asia and help the dolphins.
Dayton
Jan 11, 2008 at 11:08 am
I agree 100% with everything that was said about this incident. However, the “criticism since she assumed her host duties at Golf Channel” is mostly warranted. Her performance in the booth is poor and detracts from the enjoyment of watching a broadcast.
David
Jan 11, 2008 at 10:59 am
I think the “lynched” comment came off without even a thought from Tilghman. If it was any other golfer being talked about in the same situation (dominating everyone else) I think she would have chosen the same words and it would have been a non-issue. The amount of noise being made by one Al Sharpton just goes to show exactly where the racial prejudice is coming from here. Get over it Al!! Tiger has, as I’m sure the majority of the world has too!
Andrew Aquilini
Jan 11, 2008 at 10:36 am
I totally agree that this is an over reaction. I wonder sometimes what is this world coming too.
As far as Al Sharpton, he is nothing more than a self serving opportunist. Wasn’t it just recently he was under IRS scrutiny for not filing returns. Additionally, has everyone forgotten about “Twana Brawley” (Spelling).
Cangolfnut
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:56 am
We all know what she ment. Kelly Tilghman consistantly professional and is getting a bad rap. Can I mention rap?? I wonder if she had of used hitman what the reaction would be.
ken
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:25 am
I doubt you are interested in my comments. I personally think the Golf Channel is a joke for doing anything. There was no harm and there was no foul,
Only and idiot would decide that the word lynch is racist in the first place. They used to lynch rustlers in the old west regardless of race color or creed.