Terry Gannon Joins Golf Channel

This is an interesting hire. Terry Gannon who has worked with ESPN on college football, college basketball and golf is joining Golf Channel to call both PGA and LPGA events. I’m not sure if this is a full-time hire since Gannon would not be able to call college basketball games. And I’m also wondering if Gannon’s replacing Kelly Tilghman and/or Rich Lerner or if he’s being added to the stable. But here’s the press release.

Golf Channel Adds Terry Gannon to Broadcasting Team

ORLANDO, Fla. (April 27, 2010) – One of golf broadcasting’s most authoritative personalities, Terry Gannon, has joined Golf Channel’s live tournament team to share play-by-play responsibilities for the network’s coverage of the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour.

A veteran broadcaster of 21 years, Gannon’s partnership with Golf Channel will extend through 2013. His first Golf Channel assignment will be the LPGA Championship Presented by Wegmans, beginning June 24, where he will be paired with Hall-of-Famer Judy Rankin for the LPGA’s second major championship of 2010. He will partner with Nick Faldo for his first PGA TOUR assignment at the AT&T National, which will be contested over Independence Day weekend and will feature Tiger Woods headlining the field.

“Terry’s experience speaks for itself and his presence will allow an already great play-by-play team greater depth for a live tournament schedule that continues to grow,” said Tom Stathakes, Golf Channel senior vice president of programming, production and operations.

In addition to broadcasting golf, Gannon has hosted telecasts for a variety of high-profile sporting events, including college football, college basketball, World Cup soccer and the Olympic Games. He has been the television voice of figure skating for 14 years, is a three-time host of the Tour de France and the Little League World Series. He began his career in 1988 with ESPN after excelling in positions with sports programming syndicators Raycom Media and Jefferson-Pilot Communications.

Gannon was a two-time Academic All-American basketball player at North Carolina State University and was a member of its 1983 National Championship team coached by Jim Valvano. He currently resides in Los Angeles, Calif., with his family.

A developing story involving MLB.com and its writers coming up.

UPDATE, 4/29/10, 9:05 a.m.: Heard from a Golf Channel spokesman who says Gannon will be golf-exclusive to TGC except for the Open Championship, Women’s Open Championship and the Senior’s Open Championship, all of which are carried on ESPN. And he’ll work on ESPN for college football and basketball.

He is not replacing anyone, but is being added to Golf Channel’s stable of announcers. Thanks to Golf Channel for answering my questions.