Kelly Tilghman, a presenter on the Golf Channel's coverage of the US Tour, has been suspended for two weeks following a remark she made about Tiger Woods.

Tilghman was talking on air with co-host Nick Faldo, the European Ryder Cup captain, during the Mercedes-Benz Championship about how young players might challenge the world No 1.

Faldo said: "We just have to gang up on him" and Tilghman added: "Lynch him in a back alley."

Last night the Golf Channel issued a statement regretting the "the poorly-chosen remarks" and extending their apologies to anyone who was offended. The channel said it had received a limited number of complaints regarding the comment.

"There is simply no place on our network for offensive language like this," the statement said. "While we believe that Kelly's choice of words were inadvertent and that she did not intend them in an offensive manner, the words were hurtful and grossly inappropriate.

"Consequently we have decided to suspend Kelly for two weeks, effective immediately."

Reverend Al Sharpton, the civil rights activist, had led calls demanding she be fired immediately although Mark Steinberg, Woods's agent, said it was a non-issue and considered the matter "case closed." Tilghman has subsequently apologised to Woods, who she has known for 12 years.

"I've reached out to Tiger to make an apology, and I've done the same with our viewers," Tilghman said. "I can assure you that there was never any intention to offend anyone. I'm sorry for any misunderstanding."