Q&A with Broadcaster and All-American Emilia Migliaccio Doran

Welcome to the Two Down Press golf newsletter!

The Charlotte tee time scene is a grind! I already knew this, but a good stretch of early spring weather reminded me that booking last minute these days in a no-go. Hopefully you were on-the-ball and are getting out to the course this week.

We’re back with another 2DP Q&A, plus a quick plug for an upcoming local event. Today’s conversation is with Emilia Migliaccio Doran.

TWO DOWN PRESS Q&A

Meet All-American, National Champion, and Golf Media Rising Star Emilia Migliaccio Doran

Emilia Migliaccio Doran is a golf broadcaster and former All-American at Wake Forest University. Her illustrious amateur career saw her rise as high as 3rd in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, earn All-American honors for the Demon Deacons, compete in each of the first 5 iterations of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, and represent her country at the 2019 Pan American Games and 2022 Curtis Cup at Merion Golf Club.

Migliaccio Doran graduated from Wake in 2021 and made headlines with her decision to forego professional golf for a career in golf media. In 2022, she returned to Wake to use the extra year of eligibility granted during COVID and capped off her college career by leading the Deacs to a national championship. She’s now launched into the world of golf broadcasting full-time, travelling the country to cover the highest levels of professional and amateur golf.

I chatted with Emilia last month to learn more about the early days of her career, how she’s balancing working and competing, the biggest events on her 2025 schedule, and what she misses most about college golf. This conversation has been edited for brevity and readability.

2DP: You’ve officially made the transition from full-time student/golfer to broadcaster and media personality. Tell me a little bit about your work and schedule.

EMD: I’m freelance, primarily working for PGA Tour Entertainment (PGA Tour Live on ESPN+) NBC Sports/Golf Channel, and SiriusXM Radio. Ultimately I want to do TV, but when you first start out, you’re typically following a featured group and not necessarily the leaders coming down the stretch. Radio has been great because it gave me a chance to cover the majors - for example, I was on the call at the PGA Championship on Saturday when Bryson DeChambeau chipped in on 18.

Last year was my first full year and I worked 32 weeks. Everyone tells you to say “yes” to everything early in your career - I feel that is good advice to an extent, but I’m only planning to cover 28 or 29 events this year. This year starts out with PGA Tour Live, then transitions to college tournaments, including the NCAA Championships. I’ll be doing a lot of USGA and Korn Ferry Tour events during the summer, then back to college events and more Korn Ferry in the fall.

For all four-day tournaments that are Thursday through Sunday, I leave Wednesday morning. We don’t know our schedule ahead of time to know when we’ll be done Sunday, so I head home on Monday. For college events that are typically Monday to Wednesday, I can leave Sunday and fly back Thursday, which gives me Friday and Saturday at home.

2DP: What has been most surprising about the transition to the working world?

EMD: I would say how chaotic it can feel. The spontaneity is what I love about my job, but work, even when I'm home and not on a broadcast, can pile up. Whether it be prepping for my next events, going over my old footage, outside meetings, etc. - it’s amazing just how quickly my schedule can fill up. It's also been amazing to see, from a different perspective, everything that goes into running and televising a tournament. I definitely have more appreciation for how it all gets done.

2DP: How have you been keeping your game sharp amidst all the travel?

EMD: I bring my clubs everywhere I go, except on a rare occasion. Depending on the times of the broadcast, I try to get out and practice 1 to 3 times that week. I rarely have the time to play but will occasionally if the schedule allows. If I don't have time to practice or play, I keep things sharp by using a putting mirror to check my start-line and doing swing rehearsals in the hotel room to make sure I keep my feels. It's been amazing how much that routine has helped!

2DP: What events are still on your radar from a playing perspective?

EMD: I’m really excited to have two weeks off in June. The dates overlap with the North & South, and there is a stroke play tournament the week before called the Donna Andrews Invitational that I’ll use to get prepped.

I’ll play in the U.S. Women’s Open qualifier, and I have one more exemption into the U.S. Women’s Am, which is at Bandon Dunes this year. I also want to play the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am at Monterey Peninsula Country Club - it’s so cool they’re holding it there.

2DP: What do you miss most about college golf and competing more regularly?

EMD: I definitely miss the team energy of everyone striving for the common goal of trying to win a national championship. I miss pushing my teammates and having them push me. I also miss the grind days - when I'm on the range for 3 hours with my coach and we finally get that epiphany swing feel that gets us excited for the next day. When I do get the time these days to practice for half a day or play with my family and friends, I definitely cherish it.

2DP: What do you love about living in Charlotte?

EMD: The people and the golf! My husband and I have met so many wonderful people in Charlotte, especially in the golf space. It's a wonderful community and we are so blessed to call Charlotte our home.

RAPID FIRE WITH EMILIA MIGLIACCIO DORAN

Best Hole in Charlotte: Quail Hollow #14

Favorite Money Game: Sixes (2 vs. 2 best ball matches with partners rotating every 6 holes)

Proudest Tournament Win: 2022 North and South

Favorite Hole at Augusta National: #16, great spectating hole and loved trying to skip it across the water during ANWA practice rounds

2025 Tournament You’re Excited to Cover: Ryder Cup and PGA Championship (doing SiriusXM coverage for both)

HOUSEKEEPING

Save the date for the inaugural CLT Putting Championship presented by 2DP sponsor Twilight Golf Club and the First Tee - Greater Charlotte Young Professionals! The event will take place Saturday, April 5th at 6PM. The tournament will be held on Doc’s Hill, the King-Collins-designed putting course at the First Tee Learning Center in Pineville.

$50 to register for the competition or $25 to attend, enjoy Masters-themed food and drinks, and meet folks passionate about advancing the mission of the First Tee.

Register here to lock in your spot! Tournament slots are limited, so sign up ASAP.

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