Talent Profile: Kelly Tilghman, The Golf Channel

No one knew who Kelly Tilghman was before. Now because of the stupid comment she made about Tiger Woods, Al Sharpton has gotten involved. She has now been suspended for two weeks. Now everybody knows who she is. This is her profile as published by The Golf Channel. Last updated Jan 9, 2008.

Kelly Tilghman, the first, full-time female play-by-play commentator in the history of the PGA TOUR, has been one of the GOLF CHANNEL’s most versatile on-air personalities. In 2007, she began her collaboration with lead analyst Nick Faldo 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 GOLF CHANNEL 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. Tilghman grew up in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., where her family owned and operated a golf course for 22 years. She earned a scholarship to play on Duke University’s women’s golf team, where she won the 1990 Lady Paladin Invitational hosted by Furman University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History.