Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman was not fired for saying that young players who wanted to challenge Tiger Woods should “lynch him in a back alley.”
Tilghman was instead suspended two weeks by the network.
A 1991 Duke graduate and former college golfer, Tilghman was laughing during the comment at the Mercedes-Benz Championship, and Tiger Woods‘ agent at IMG has said he didn’t think there was any ill intent on her part.
But the comments became prevalent on news shows Wednesday, and the Rev. Al Sharpton joined the fray by demanding she be fired immediately.
Amazingly, Rosie O’Donnell has yet to weigh in.
The Golf Channel didn’t comment on who would replace Kelly Tilghman (seen here with fellow anchor Nick Faldo) during her two-week unpaid vacation.
“There is simply no place on our network for offensive language like this,” the Golf Channel said in a statement announcing the suspension.
Kelly Tilghman became golf’s first female anchor last year when the PGA Tour signed a 15-year deal in which the Golf Channel broadcasts the first three events of the year, as well as weekday coverage of all tour events.
Kelly Tilghman’s suspension ends in time for the Buick Invitational January 24, when Tiger Woods will make his 2008 debut.