TV pioneer Chirkinian passes away at 84 | Golf News and Tour Information [Video]

Legendary TV producer Frank Chikinian passed away Friday after a long battle with cancer, Golf World’s Tim Rosafore has reported. Chirkinian, who was 84, died at his home in North Palm Beach, Fla.

Chirkinian, who in his role leading broadcasts at CBS, is widely credited for defining the way golf is broadcast on TV, was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in an emergency vote last month. In career at CBS that began with the 1958 PGA Championship, Chirkinian said the Hall vote was the highlight.

“Considering my current health situation, this has given me an incredible boost in my attitude toward life because this award is the most coveted in the game of golf,” Chirkinian told Rosaforte on Feb. 9. “I am so proud to be a major part of that story.”

Golf Digest Senior Writer Guy Yocom wrote a “My Shot” featurewith Chirkinian in the September 2003 issue of the magazine. In it, Chirkinian described a cantankerous but singularly effective leadership …