Sad news soon after the New Year learning AGW member Tim Rosaforte passed away on January 11th, 2022 . Tim was aged 66.

‘Rosie, as he affectionately known, was born on October 25, 1955, in Mount Kisco, New York State. He first got into journalism in 1977 working at the Tampa Times and later moving on to the Sun-Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, Sports Illustrated and Golf Digest/Golf World.

He appeared on USA Network’s PGA Tour Sunday before settling in at the Golf Channel in 2007, where he grew into his role as golf’s “insider,” offering notes, behind-the-scenes perspective and interviews with the sport’s biggest names.

Tim joined the AGW in 1994 and also proudly served as the President of the Golf Writers Association of America.

Among his honors were the PGA of America’s Lifetime Achievement in Journalism Award. In 2020, the PGA of America made him its 12th honorary member, a list that also includes former Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gerald R. Ford and George H.W. Bush. He was the first journalist be so honored. Rosaforte received the Memorial Golf Journalism Award from the tournament that Nicklaus founded in 2021. The University of Rhode Island, his alma mater, endowed a scholarship in his name. Also in 2021, Rosaforte’s hometown tournament, the Honda Classic, named its media room after him and inaugurated the Tim Rosaforte Distinguished Writers’ Award.

Martin Dempster, AGW Chairman

It was a sheer touch of class and, judging by the tsunami of tributes that have been paid to him, summed up Tim Rosaforte as a human being.

He made a point of tracking me down one year in the new media centre at Augusta National because he wanted to pass on his personal thanks.

I’d written a piece about Bill Lockie, the long-time Barassie professional, winning the PGA in Scotland’s John Panton Award for outstanding service to golf.

In that piece, I’d made reference to one of Bill’s sons, Neil, being the director of golf at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club in Jupiter in Florida, and having been voted Professional of the Year by the South Florida PGA Southeast Chapter the previous year.

Tim, I have since discovered, was an ambassador member of Jonathan’s Landing and he was keen to let me know how pleasing it had been for him personally for the club to earn a mention in The Scotsman and on scotsman.com.

Every time I have heard his name mentioned or come across it, I always think about that nice gesture and, like so many others, I feel deeply saddened that he has passed away at just 66.

He was an outstanding journalist but, as so many others have been relaying in paying their tributes to Tim over the last 24 hours, he also had a rare knack of making people he came across feel special. 

John Hopkins, Former AGW Chairman

Tim Rosaforte started to write about golf for his Florida paper in the early nineteen eighties just a little after I started writing golf for The Sunday Times. We met in Florida about that time and remained good friends with one another. Larry Dorman also started to write about golf at that time and he and Tim were friendly rivals in Florida and very close to one another.

Towards the end I used to call Tim Swifty as in Swifty Lazar the famous Hollywood agent with a bald shining head and distinctive glasses. It made a change from Rosie, which is what everyone else called him.

I can only endorse the tributes made to TR from the golf fraternity in the US. The standing in which he was held was very high and the number of remarks and their quality should have brought some comfort to Genevieve, his wife, and their two daughters. I wasn’t able to read a lot of Tim’s stuff but I knew it was pretty good because he would always report a story to death. But I was able to see his television work and when he was called on to give the viewer an idea of what a particular golfer who had done something special that day was like then he was brilliant. His contacts were legendary and so were the number of mobile phones he usually had with him. One or two would be commonplace, three would be more likely and if someone said they had seen TR with four phones about his person I would not be surprised. 

Whether on the Orlando Sentinel, Sports Illustrated, Golf Digest, the Golf Channel or network television, Tim was pleasingly diffident about himself, a rare characteristic in those who work on television and he was all the more likeable for that. He and I spent a lot of time analysing our work and that of our colleagues as we tried to get better. Who he modelled himself on in his diligence as a reporter I don’t know but if TR is anything to go by he must have been a helluva reporter.

Another striking aspect of Swifty was his impeccable dress sense. I don’t remember him being particularly well turned out in his early years. No more so than any of us. But once he started to work on television he raised his game to new heights. He would appear in a press centre each morning dressed smartly and carrying a coat hangar with a jacket, freshly-ironed shirt and a tie hanging on it and an hour or so before going on air he would disappear to get changed ready for his broadcasts.

By physique he was a big man, one you would want on your side in a pub fight rather than against you; by temperament, he was quiet. You’d be sitting at your desk vaguely aware that someone had sat down alongside you and got on with his work and it might be five minutes before you realised it was Tim. 

We have had a bad run of losing golf writing colleagues lately what with Jock [McVicar], Ben Wright, Renton Laidlaw, Goran Zachrisson, Dave Hamilton, Kaye Kessler, not to mention Peter Alliss. And  now Tim. I miss them all. 

Philippe Hermann

Tim Rosaforte passing away, it’s a big loss indeed… A class act and role model for me, one of the very few whom I was happy to chat with on any occasion, read or listen to his always balanced comments. Tim belonged to my short list of fine people I would like their voice to last until the end of the world. 
RIP Philippe P. Hermann       

AGW/AGW MEMBER (Social Media) Tributes

Mark Townsend

Sat next to him at a Wednesday Open press conference. Everyone was being asked about a particular player and a bit of controversy, he was just sitting there in the front row exchanging messages, in oversized fonts, with the player himself. One of the coolest things I’ve seen

GWAA

Tim Rosaforte, our friend, colleague, mentor and past GWAA president, has passed away after a battle with aggressive Alzheimer’s at the age of 66. Tim was tough, but fair and was trusted by everyone in the game. He loved golf and people and set a high bar. He will be missed.

PLAYER (Social Media) TRIBUTES

Jack Nicklaus

A wonderful photograph of Tim with Jack and Barbara Nicklaus.

Many hearts, including Barbara’s & mine, hurt today after the passing of our friend Tim Rosaforte. Tim had a wonderful ability to develop trust from so many, and because of that—plus his work ethic—if there was an important story to be told in golf, Tim usually reported it first.

Video clip – https://twitter.com/jacknicklaus/status/1481044101474758656

We were blessed to honor Tim at the 2021 Memorial with the Memorial Golf Journalism Award. That led to a day I’ll remember forever. It was May 12 and Tim’s wife, Genevieve, brought him to our home. We shared stories, laughs and tears. It was the last time I got to visit with Tim.

Ernie Els

Saddened to hear of Tim Rosaforte’s passing today.  A brilliant journalist, a great friend and shared many life discussion … I wil never foget you Tim.

Rory McIlroy

Always enjoyed my conversations with Tim. A great journalist but more importantly a kind hearted person who will be missed by many. My thoughts are with his family

Phil Mickelson

Tim was one of the best at what he did. He lifted those up around him and shared insight into the game of golf from an interesting and positive point of view. He will be remembered by so many he came in contact with and we are all better for having known him. RIP Tim

Fred Couples

I like the media. I love Tim Rosaforter @GolfChannel

Bryson DeChambeau

Terrible news to hear today. Tim was an amazing reporter and a respected journalist.  Had of lot of great conversations throughout the few years I was on the tour.  Sending my thoughts and prayers to his family today.

Justin Thomas

Awful, awful news. RIP, Rosie

David Duval

Tremendously sad to hear of Tim Rosaforte passing. Abundantly kind and fair to all he came across. Blessed to have known him my entire career. More blessed to call him my friend. We all just lost a beautiful person.

Zach Johnson

My heart aches at the passing of @Rosafortegolf.  A true gentleman and ambassador of the game of golf.  He will be missed.  Condolences to his wife and girls.

Graeme McDowell

Tim Rosaforte was a great man who loved the sport of golf. He will be dearly missed.

Luke Donald

A very sad day in the golfing world. Always had time for Tim and thoroughly enjoyed our chats over the years. Gone way too soon. You will be greatly missed

Rich Beem

Sad to hear the passing of Tim Rosaforte. He was such a good dude to me in both of my jobs, as a player and pundit. Loved this picture he took with my dad at the 2013 PGA.

Harris English

Sad day in the golf world. Rosey will be missed. Always one of the good guys and well respected amongst all the players

Brian Gay

This whole thread is true. A great memory about a great man. We will miss him. Condolences to all those who loved him. There were many. RIP Rosie

Ryan Palmer

One of the best. Always enjoyed my times visiting with Tim. RIP my friend

Graham DeLaet

Just saw the news about Tim Rosaforte. He really was one of the best in the business. Sad day for the golf world.

Smylie Kaufman

Tim was one of the best in the business. I’ll remember how thorough and intentional he was during his interviews and how he always seemed to ask the right questions. Such a great man that will be sorely missed. A sad day for golf.

Ken Duke

So sad to hear the news about a wonderful person Tim Rosenfort. He was so passionate about the game of golf and every person that he was interviewing. We will all miss him dearly prayers go out to this family.

Annika Sorenstam

We are so sorry to hear about the passing of Tim Rosaforte. I had known him for many years and always respected the way he went about his business. He was trusted by everyone. His word was gold. He worked hard, but had a soft side. He will be greatly missed. RIP Rosie

GOLFING BODIES/TOURNAMENTS

PGA of America

We are deeply saddened by the loss of PGA Honorary Member and legendary golf journalist Tim Rosaforte. His wonderful grace, charm and insight will be dearly missed by his many friends at the PGA of America and all across the game of golf.

LPGA

We are sad to hear of the passing of Tim Rosaforte. Tim was an incredible journalist and a great advocate for golf. He will be missed. We extend our condolences to Tim’s family and friends.

The Memorial

Tim Rosaforte, #theMemorial Tournament 2021 Journalist Award recipient will forever be remembered as a great friend, award-winning journalist, and inspiration to us all. Today we offer our thoughts and prayers to the entire Rosaforte family upon his passing

Arnold Palmer Invitational

As golf reveals a person’s true nature, Tim Rosaforte returned the favor, fairly and warmly illuminating the game’s many facets while his own incredible character came to light. Everyone at Bay Hill will miss him greatly, and our hearts go out to his entire family.

Golf Channel

Tim Rosaforte, the veteran journalist who became one of the first television “insiders,” passed away Tuesday after a brief battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 66.  https://bit.ly/3GjdU9z

GWAA TWITTER