Golf
Golf Channel's Kelly Tilghman Apologizes for Tiger Woods 'Should Be Lynched' Remark
By Dylan Vox

Jan 9, 2008

Kelly Tilghman

The PGA tour season kicked off this week, and already sports analyst Kelly Tilghman is backpedaling after an inappropriate comment she made about leading contender Tiger Woods. After suggesting that the other players should ‘lynch’ the golf phenom, Tilghman has now issued a public apology for her lack of tact.  

In the 10 years since Woods rose to No. 1 in the world, he has amassed an unprecedented winning streak taking home 61 championships on the PGA Tour and adding 13 majors titles to his resume.  

Former college golfer at Duke University, Tilghman made history herself last year when it was announced that she would be the first female lead announcer on the Golf Channel. She has gained quite a following during her tenure, but the incident last week could be costly.  

During Friday's telecast of the PGA Tour's opening event, while talking to fellow commentator Nick Faldo, Tilghman suggest that in order to have a shot at the title “today's young players should lynch Tiger Woods in a back alley.”  

At the close of the show Tilghman tried to explain the faux pas stating, "I can assure you that there was never any intention to offend anyone. I'm sorry for any misunderstanding."  

Today she and the Golf Channel issued a public apology in a statement to New York Newsday, which said, “I used some poorly chosen words. I have known Tiger for 12 years and I have apologized directly to him. I also apologize to our viewers who may have been offended by my comments."  

A representative for the channel added, "We regret the unfortunate choice of words that Kelly used during the broadcast and apologize to anyone who was offended by her remarks. We take this matter very seriously. She has apologized privately to Tiger and publicly on the air."  

As for now, no official disciplinary action is planned against Tilghman.