Rich Lerner grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, working summers at his father’s driving range and miniature golf course. He attended Temple University, where he also called live basketball games for campus radio station WRTI. After college, Lerner worked at various local TV stations, building a foundation in live sports coverage and storytelling.

He then joined Golf Channel in 1997 and has been one of its most versatile and respected anchors ever since. Today, he hosts Golf Central and the on-site production Golf Central Live From. He also delivers play-by-play commentary for PGA Tour events and anchors coverage of the Ryder Cup and major championships.

Besides the Golf Channel, Lerner has contributed to NBC’s Olympic coverage, having covered four Olympic games for the network. He most recently called gymnastics competitions at the 2024 Paris Olympics for NBC, winning a Sports Emmy as part of the coverage team. Beyond his TV career, Rich Lerner has also produced documentaries, including Tiger Woods: Millennium Man and Se Ri Pak: A Champion’s Journey.