JUDY RANKIN
Judy Rankin joins NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympics as an 18th hole golf analyst. With golf’s return to the Olympics after a more than 100-year absence, Rio marks Rankin’ first Olympic assignment. Rankin is currently the lead analyst for Golf Channel’s LPGA Tour coverage, a role she has held since 2010.
A 26-time LPGA Tour winner and World Golf Hall of Fame member, Rankin was the leading money winner in 1976 and 1977, and finished in the top 10 on the money list 11 times between 1965 and 1979. She was a three-time recipient of the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average in a season (1973, 1976, and 1977), a two-time LPGA Player of the Year (1976 and 1977), and captained the 1996 and ’98 American Solheim Cup teams to victories.
Rankin also was the first veteran player to be voted into the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame in 2000 and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame the same year. Rankin also received the “First Lady in Golf Award” from the PGA of America in 1999 and the Bob Jones award from the USGA in 2002.
Rankin became the first woman to work full-time on broadcasts of men’s golf events and previously has served as a golf commentator for ABC and ESPN.
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