REPORT: WJAR Alum Kathryn Tappen Won’t Return to NBC Sports Golf Coverage in 2023
Former WJAR sports anchor/reporter Kathryn Tappen is the latest victim of the massive overhaul going on at NBC Sports and the Golf Channel in advance of the the 2023 PGA Tour season.
According to a report from Geoff Shackelford’s newsletter, The Quadrilateral, Tappen won’t be returning to golf coverage in 2023.
“It’s not good times at NBC,” a source told Golfweek.
The same source told Golfweek that the moves are part of “significant cuts to the entire team for budgetary reasons.”
This comes after Tappen served as the lead interviewer this past season, filling in for Steve Sands, who was promoted to the anchor role.
She is scheduled to work the latest version of The Match on Saturday night for TNT as part of the commentary crew.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy will take on Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth in that event.
As has been reported, Gary Koch and Roger Maltbie will be done after this month, while Brad Faxon is among those set to join the team.
What’s Next for Tappen
According to Golfweek, Tappen is in discussions with NBC to take on a bigger role in the company.
Golfweek adds that TNT and ESPN both have interest in bringing on Tappen on to be part of their NHL coverage.
Tappen started her career at WJAR working with Frank Carpano and Joe Kayata, before moving on to NESN and then NHL Network.