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Wed May 07, 2008 1:27 pm EDT

No love for Kelly Tilghman

By Jay Busbee

Erin Andrews never has problems like this.

Seems that the PGA pros are not exactly pleased with the job performance of the Golf Channel's Kelly Tilghman. At last week's PGA Tour player's meeting, several players-apparently under the impression that Commissioner Tim Finchem is the Hitman-told Finchem that he needed to get Tilghman hushed up, pronto.

The players' complaint wasn't with anything specific Tilghman said-including a certain comment from earlier this year vis-à-vis Tiger Woods and Southern justice-but with her perceived inability to manufacture drama out of thin air, as any good golf announcer should be able to do on a moment's notice.

Finchem pointed out that the PGA Tour doesn't actually control the Golf Channel, but simply the fact that this story leaked out of the players' meetings means there'll likely be action. Expect Kelly to start talking in a much lower register and using words like "majestic" to describe routine chip shots.

Really, it seems there's a solid group of players out to get Ms. Tilghman, a group that would cause dramatic and irreversible harm to her career if they got hold of her. What's the word for that kind of mob?… Oh, right. Never mind.

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169 Comments

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  1. Chas db MacDuff
    1. Posted by Chas db MacDuff Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:25 pm EDT

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    Kelly Tilghman has more class than half the field combined in ANY PGA tour event. I am sick and tired of watching grown men act like petulant little pissants when the ball THEY hit doesn't go exactly where they wanted it to go when they had all the power in their own hands and clubs to direct its flight. Since when does the PGA have to saccharine down anything that approaches OBJECTIVITY in reporting. Nobody does a better job than Kelly in the whole broadcast game, and there are some GREAT announcers out there in any given tournament. Get off her case and quit acting like a bunch of spoiled brats, act like MEN.
  2. SED
    2. Posted by SED Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:04 pm EDT

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    I completely agree with Chas!!
    Kelly is usually spot on and does a good job reporting what she sees. I do not hear the "establishment" crying about Johnny Miller!! He has to be the most sarcastic A** in the world. Just watch starting tomorrow how Miller will describe a shot that is not spot on. Shall I dare say that this could a be a female thing??!!
    The hypocracy coming from the average PGA player is a joke. These guys are making a ton of money now compared to just 10 years ago and you know what, the more money the more whiny they become. None are more whny than Hefty....errrr...Lefty after another dissapointment on the course. SHUT UP AND PLAY!! Can't take the pressure go and teach at some POS country club!!
    SHUT UP AND PLAY
  3. Laurence S
    3. Posted by Laurence S Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:18 pm EDT

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    Kelly is not the greatest but when you put her aside of some of these other JERKS on the golf channel she is well above the field. Some of those announcers and it includes Kelly do not seem to be able to say five words without a "tiger' or two coming out of them Come on!! Woods would be absolutely nothing if there were not a group of other players playing the game. NO_ONE has records without competition and Woods has to admit that even a lot of his wins came from a lucky break along the way.
  4. Rick
    4. Posted by Rick Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:46 pm EDT

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    I dont reaqlly have anything personally against Tilghman - I just feel like she isnt any good as an anchor on the Golf Channel. If they limited her appearances to cameos or other interest spots that wold be better.
    She just really doesnt have anything else to offer for the broadcast.
  5. TERROR SQUAD
    5. Posted by TERROR SQUAD Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:43 pm EDT

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    I think Tilghman is doing a great job. I enjoy listening to her commentary and people should remember that she usually works on Thursday and Friday, how much drama is there on Thursday and Friday? Sorry guys if she's not Jim Nance or Verne Lundquist, but for the Golf Channel on Thursdays and Fridays of tour events, I think she does a great job. She's got a lot of class and she's very professional.
  6. conrad
    6. Posted by conrad Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:25 pm EDT

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    all the cockiness and airness of these PGA players is rubbing the fans the wrong way. They seems to forget that without the fans they would be no PGA and big purses. Remember what Sinatra says long ago.
    Try to make a living without the support of the fans.
    You guys have the best Job in the world don't screw it and give a little to the fans that support your livelyhood....
  7. Honey K
    7. Posted by Honey K Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    I have been thinking about her being removed for awhile now. I really don't like her, she brings nothing to the table. I'm sure they can get Inga Hammonds or someone to replace her. As for the other commentors,
  8. J
    8. Posted by J Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

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    What do they care if Bozo the Clown is the anchor? Aren't they supposed to be out on the course PLAYING? Are the players really running out of ways to kill their MASSIVE free time?
    I don't have an opinion either way about Tilghman- nor should it matter to the players.
    Last time I checked, the consumer purchasing power of the PGA tourning pros almost, but not quite, exceeded that of the 50 million viewers.....
  9. Builder
    9. Posted by Builder Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    Yes, Kelly is not the best commentator but she shouldn't be responsible for making golf interesting. She has been making progress and if she doesn't get caught up trying to be as witty as Faldo thinks he is she will continue to improve. If I had to give her some advice it would be to relax a bit more and it would translate to a more seamless broadcast. It is the players who are supposed to generate drama and better competition. They get paid large sums of money to do just that. If everyone one of them were graded on how well they do their job many would finish well below Kelly. Stick to what you are paid to do gentlemen and spend your free time improving your own games
  10. RambleOn
    10. Posted by RambleOn Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:04 pm EDT

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    Kelly doesn't bring anything to the table. Her delivery is uncomfortable and she sounds like a bad disc jockey. Between her and Inga on GC I am not sure which is worse. Rich and Nick did very well together and they should have stuck with that pair in her absence. If you want true golf coverage McCord and Ferherty deliver every time out. They have been out there and understand the difficulty of the game and give the proper amount of praise.
  11. Fred C
    11. Posted by Fred C Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:23 pm EDT

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    I think she is doing OK as an announcer. I think she will only get better with more experience. As for the players griping, I agree with everyone who thinks these guys are pretty spoiled, and should stick to trying to catch up with Tiger. . .
  12. Rudy88
    12. Posted by Rudy88 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:16 pm EDT

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    Jay-----Nice to see that you have an interest in a gentlemans sport. Now when someone at Yahoo Nascar starts putting down golf, I'll be looking for you to back me up when I defend it. I don't play it, but I have watched it since before the days of Arnies Army. Tiger Woods has me mesmerized There have been quite a few Sundays when I've driven everyone here nuts, switching back and forth, between NASCAR and golf. I also worked at the L.A. open one year, when I was a teen. Met a lot of the old timers, including meeting Babe Didrickson on the putting green. What a thrill.
  13. Buzz F
    13. Posted by Buzz F Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:46 pm EDT

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    Kelly and Nick Faldo are great together!
    Listen carefully - there is some sly English wit from Nick - due to Kelly and some of her comments. It takes two to make it work.
    I have watched golf for 20 years and other than Johnny Miller you can have the rest - they are boring.
    And yes, I am tired of McCord too.
  14. Bill A
    14. Posted by Bill A Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:42 pm EDT

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    One of the reasons I watch golf and in particular the golf channel
    is to listen to Kellys' smooth and professional commentary. Some of
    us don't need all the "glitz" or "hype" such as a John Madden (football)
    delivery. Kelly rates 5 stars.
  15. chester m
    15. Posted by chester m Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:20 pm EDT

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    Kelly is probably the only women announcer who actually knows that she is talking about. Why would you want to get rid of someone who is articulate and understands the game? She is the ojly female annnouncer who DOESNT make me whince they try to describe a sport in which they have never played or know nothing about other than what they are told to read . Stupid Stupid Stupid.
  16. Ottaxe
    16. Posted by Ottaxe Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:25 pm EDT

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    I think Golf Channel by itself for a lack of a better term do not have the star powers like the NBC's and CBS's have in the form of Nantz,Faldo andthe CBS casts and Miller,Hicks and NBC gang who are seasoned brodcasters.
    No disrespect for Brandon Chamblee or Nobilo but they have not won any Majors or competed for one down the stretch on a Sunday afternnon and obvioulsy they dont have the experience like Faldo or Miller to give that tonic for the viewers to get excited on week days afternoon.
    Tilghman or Hammond are good anchors who happened to be good looking as well but they dont have the talent as Nantz or Costas or for that matter the old Golf Channel guy Scott Van pelt.
    They need to do some excitement and bring a big name broadcaster on to the 18th Tower on week days to make things exciting
  17. bg
    17. Posted by bg Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:06 pm EDT

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    Kelly Tilghman is a terrible announcer, but really not too bad considering her competition and coworkers. I cannot stand to hear her idiotic comments that are simply a reiteration of what I am looking at on the screen. Comments like "he really didn't want to make that bogey". REALLY, HE DIDN'T? No kidding? Ya think someone WANTS to make a bogey. Ever since someone pointed out her idiotic statements that she makes I have been unable to watch her without having the sound muted. I never realized how many stupid and non relevant comments she makes.
  18. reddogg75218
    18. Posted by reddogg75218 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:34 pm EDT

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    I would rather listen to her than to Nick..... and his limey stichk.... I find myself listening to Nick because I can't understand every other word he mumbles... whereas Kelly is crisp and clear.... Feherty is the man though.... what a wit.... McCord is a worn out record.... want someone boring .... try Nance....
  19. reddogg75218
    19. Posted by reddogg75218 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:34 pm EDT

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    I would rather listen to her than to Nick..... and his limey stichk.... I find myself listening to Nick because I can't understand every other word he mumbles... whereas Kelly is crisp and clear.... Feherty is the man though.... what a wit.... McCord is a worn out record....
  20. Mike
    20. Posted by Mike Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:18 pm EDT

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    The PGA players who may have made comments about Kelly Tilghman are probably the same ones
    who worry about keeping their cards every year. No one has ever acused them of being anything
    other than a journeyman golfer with a limited tour future.
    Change seems difficult for everybody to accept, when it come just about everything including female golf
    announcers. The truth is Kelly is not very good in this role, especially when compared to a Dan Hicks
    or Jim Nantz, which is not really fair.
    Kelly would probably be better suited for a studio position or on course reporting role where she would
    not have so much air time to fill with endless chatter. Everything we whear about Kelly indicates she
    is really a nice person and very knowledgable about golf. Unfortunately, she is just in the wrong
    position for her skill sets.
    This is The Golf Channel's fault, not Kelly's.......
  21. Gary R
    21. Posted by Gary R Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    I think Kelly is doing a fine job. The players need to play the game and shut up alomg with some others. Go Kelly!
  22. ED CAPMANY
    22. Posted by ED CAPMANY Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:17 pm EDT

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    Amongst others, her job consists on launching powerful thrust to dramatic play as it evolves in every tournament. At times, this requires some comments on the side, that for some, may not be that accurate or cherished. Still, the core element of her output as a broadcast anchor is classy and clearly solid -both technically and artistically.
  23. J Mascis rocks!
    23. Posted by J Mascis rocks! Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

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    Don't we have anything better to talk about than a Golf Channel anchor? What about the golf? Let the golf speak for itself.
    Kelly is no CBS or NBC or ESPN anchor, but the fact that I can actually tell what she is saying makes me watch.
    These pros--or should I say millionaires--need to go out and make birdies and eagles. Play the game, which is your choice as a profession, and let others do what they have chosen to be their profession.
    Si or no?
  24. Brian A
    24. Posted by Brian A Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:55 pm EDT

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    Give me a break! Lets truely get down to the bottom of this. Regardless of how good Kelly's delivery is, her experience and wit have absolutely nothing to do with the issue. Even without a flinch from the great intimidator himself (that would be Tiger), players cave into exactly what they think he wants. It turns out he can now run policy of the PGA, ruin sports broadcasting careers, and still remain number one in the World all through his powers of intimidation. Damn, and I thought he was just an incredible golfer! Ok, give me a break....I had to get Tiger into the mix some how.
  25. Dexter
    25. Posted by Dexter Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:42 pm EDT

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    The "No Love for Kelly" article confirmed what I've been thinking all this time inside as i listen to her. She does the job acceptably but she does not have the IT factor in my opinion.

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