NB – Extensive AGW tributes to Bill still to be added. Bernie Feb, 2021.

Bill Blighton, who covered the PGA Tour for several British newspapers, died Tuesday 31st January, 2001 of a heart attack. He was aged just 54 reported ‘The Golf Channel’.
 
Blighton, a native of the London area, married and moved to the U.S. approximately 10 years ago. He had formerly worked for the Exchange Telegraph agency before becoming a golf correspondent.
 
A member of both the Golf Writers of America Association and the British Association of Golf Writers, Blighton moved to northern New Jersey last year from the Chicago area. He was a constant attendee at every major U.S. golf tournament.
 
Blighton leaves a wife, Margaret, two stepdaughters and two children in England from a previous marriage.

Martin Samuel – Writing in GQ Magazine – 7th April 2016

It is Georgia’s little Eden. The players’ favourite and the writers’, too. When Bill Blighton, golf correspondent of Today newspaper, died 12 years ago, his wish was for his ashes to be scattered at Amen Corner. Augusta refused. A couple of his friends snuck down there and did it anyway. And then scarpered. Taking care to walk, not run.

Faldo’s Problems – Dave Sittler writing in The Oklahomian Sat, October 28, 1995 (The Tour Championship, Tulsa)

As if Nick Faldo didn’t have enough worries, given all the attention he’s received this week from London’s tabloid journalists because of a pending divorce, the Englishman almost got hit by a golf ball during Friday’s second round of the 1995 Tour Championship.

Faldo was approaching his second shot on No. 4 when Jay Haas’ tee shot off the No. 4 tee box rolled near his legs. Faldo was out of sight when Haas teed off.

Bill Blighton & not Bill Blyton on this Golf Channel clip

“Fortunately, only my ankles were in danger,” an unruffled Faldo said after shooting a 2-over 70. “But it wouldn’t hurt me anyway, because I’m pretty tough. ” He has to be tough to cope with certain elements of the press that continue to pursue Faldo’s marital problems. A reporter from the American tabloid television show “Extra” arrived at Southern Hills on Friday and attempted to interview Faldo’s caddy, Fanny Sunesson.

When Sunesson said she didn’t give interviews about her boss, and attempted to block out the television camera, the reporter departed.

Longtime British golf writer Bill Blighton is covering the tournament for several publications. Faldo has been difficult at times in the past with British sportswriters, but he told Blighton this week that he “owed the British golf writers an apology. They are a band of angels compared to this (tabloid) lot. ”

When Blighton reported Faldo’s quote to his fellow journalists back in Europe, they faxed Faldo the following message: “Dear Nick, Apology accepted. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. From the Band of Angels. ”

The message was signed by 23 sportswriters. Faldo told Blighton that he intended to have it framed.

Bill in the Media Centre at Firestone CC

*Footnote – Three years earlier Faldo spoke at the prize-giving ceremony for the 1992 Open Championship after securing victory at Muirfield and in his acceptance speech he said: “I would like to thank the press of the heart of my bottom”.

YouTube – Selection of Interviews (1 hour & 20 mins) featuring Bill Blighton (Spelt Blyton in one interview) taken during the 1995 NEC World Series of Golf at Akron, Ohio + Bill and Bob Budka being interviewed by the Golf Channel in September 1999 a day after Tom Watson won his first Champions Tour event and in the week of the Ryder Cup. The last two minutes is priceless with Bill being asked: “What does it take for a golf tournament to be a Media Major?” while covering the 1999 Doral-Ryder Open

“Well, we’re well fed. We’re well watered. We are looked after. We are positive and it’s absolutely terrific. But having said that, Florida is like that because next week at the Honda Classic we actually get the press menu printed in the programme.”

And the very last handful of words from Bill’s great friend, Martin Hardy.

See – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBwlPmFzGqY

Bill Blighton mention in a tribute from former AGW Secretary and PA correspondent, Mark Garrod in relation to the passing of Maurice Flitcoft, who was a former crane driver from Barrow-in-Furness and had sent a bogus entry form to the Royal and Ancient Club at St Andrews, to qualify for the 1990 Open Championship.

See – https://www.golf365.com/home/let-s-drink-to-beau-jolley/

Dai Davies (The Guardian) menitons in a Masters piece Bill Blighton’s ashes being scattered at the back of the 10th green at Augusta National. See –https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2003/apr/09/golf.masters