Some current and former golf analysts are coming to the defense of the Golf Channel's Kelly Tilghman after she was suspended two weeks for comments she made about Tiger Woods that were deemed insensitive. Here is what several of them told me:

Judy Rankin, ABC/ESPN: €There is so little forgiveness anymore with any slip of the tongue. You can't work in live television and not think two things: First, how did that term (lynching) regarding anybody ever come into her head; and, secondly, which one of us hasn't said something dumb that we wish we could take back? She thought it was cute, and, unfortunately, she said it before she realized what kind of term she was using. I think many writers are pretty hard on people in television. They forget that when they write they get to go back and edit. In live television, you don't have that leeway. I'm not saying that what Kelly said wasn't stupid, but once in a while there ought to be some level of forgiveness.€

Jim Huber, Turner Sports: €Yes, is was a terrible choice of words, which is unusual given how hard she normally prepares. And, yes, you have to be especially careful and judicious about what you say, but you also have to examine the circumstances, and the history of the person who said it. Those of us who know Kelly know that there was absolutely no malice here.€

Steve Melnyk, formerly of CBS, ABC/ESPN: €This is a case where she misspoke, but it was totally innocent. The whole thing was blown out of proportion, and I feel sorry for her. It was a throwaway comment that came back to bite her. What if Shannon Sharpe had said that about Tom Brady? Nobody would have touched it. I leave it to you to read between the lines. I just hate what goes on today.€

Mary Bryant, ABC/ESPN, The Golf Channel: €Everybody has said things they wish they hadn't. The unfortunate thing is, if you change the channel, you'll hear all kinds of profanity €" the f-word and all sorts of terrible stuff €" and she's not close to that neighborhood. There's a terrible double standard out there.€

Bob Murphy, NBC: €I don't know her that well, but I watched the replay of what she said, and it is really, really nitty-picking to try to knock her out of the seat for something like that. My goodness, Johnny Miller might say three or four as good as that every day. We all try to be funny, and sometimes it doesn't work. That is what this was. To try to make something more out of it is just wrong.€

David Feherty, CBS: €Reverend Al needs to take a lesson and be more like Tiger, because every slip of the tongue is not a racist slur. To even imply that Kelly Tilghman is in any way a racist you are judging her by the color of her skin and not the content of her character, which seems a bit hypocritical to me. You have a genuinely good person who made a mistake and apologized. So, let's just move on, shall we.€

Steve Eubanks is a bestselling author and former PGA golf professional.