Tim Rosaforte, the veteran journalist who became one of the earliest television insiders, died Tuesday in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida after a brief battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 66.
Rosaforte retired in late 2019 after an excellent career with stints at Sports Illustrated, Golf Digest and Golf Channel. He officially joined Golf Channel in 2007, but first made an appearance on the network in the mid-1990s, when the company was still in its infancy. Over the years he has developed into a high profile role of the “insider” of golf, offering notes and behind-the-scenes insight into the sport and its biggest names.
Rosaforte, one of the game’s most respected voices and well-connected reporters, reported over 125 majors and 17 Ryder Cups; the 2020 edition was the first Masters he had missed since 1983.
During his stellar career, Rosaforte received both the Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism from the PGA of America and the Golf Journalism Award from the Memorial Tournament. The PGA also awarded him a lifetime membership, the first journalist to receive the honor. He was another honor last year when the Honda Classic, an event he covered for three decades near his South Florida home, named their media center after him. The Tim Rosaforte Distinguished Writers’ Award, which is presented annually, was also announced as part of the tournament. Rosaforte was the first recipient.
Tim Rosaforte will always be the tall, sturdy guy I first met in the mid-80s, Jaime Diaz recalls, but I quickly realized that his most outstanding quality was an endearing vulnerability Born on October 25, 1955 in Mount Kisco, New York, Rosaforte began his career in 1977 with the Tampa Times. In total, he has received more than 40 awards for writing, including first place in all four non-daily categories of the Golf Writers Association of America’s writing competition. Last year the University of Rhode Island announced the creation of an Endowed Scholarship in honor of Rosaforte, who graduated from URI in 1977.
BY Ryan Lavner
BY Brentley Romine
BY Max Schreiber
Tim Rosaforte’s colleagues and players remember the life and career of one of the original golf insiders.
Tim Rosaforte will always be the tall, tough guy I first met in the mid-80s , Jaime Diaz recalls, but I quickly realized that his most outstanding quality was an endearing vulnerability.
The Honda Classic announced on Monday that it was renaming its media center after longtime golf journalist Tim Rosaforte.
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