Dottie Pepper Returns to Golf Broadcasting After 6 Month Retirement
Recently retired golf broadcaster and former player Dottie Pepper is returning to ESPN to do limited broadcasting after just six months away.
Pepper covered golf for eight years before calling it quits in December to focus on promoting junior golf and also needed a rest after an exhaustive travel schedule.
Her new contract is what she calls the "perfect fit," reports the Associated Press. Her new gig will allow her to work on a limited part time schedule and still be a PGA of America board member while pursuing her work in junior golf.
Pepper will start next month, June 13-14, at the U.S. Open in Merion and plans to work the U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Women's Open, British Open, British Women's Open , and Senior British Open, and next year adding the Masters and Ryder Cup.
"Joining the ESPN golf team offers me the chance to cover the greatest golf events in the world," Pepper told TheFutonCritic. "It's a team of passionate and proven winners, dedicated to making the events they cover the best in the game."
As a player, Pepper won 17 times on the LGPA Tour, which included two majors in her 17-year career and a 1992 golfer of the year award.
Her previous commentary work was for NBC and the Golf Channel, and she also wrote for Sports Illustrated, reported ESPN.
The golfer has written two children's books: "Bogey Tees Off," and "Bogey Ballton's Night Before Christmas."
"ESPN's golf schedule is perfect for me," Pepper said in a statement. "I love working in television and this schedule allows me to do that but also gives me time to continue my work with the PGA of America and junior golf. It's an ideal situation."