Tim Rosaforte, the longtime golf journalist who arguably had the biggest rolodex in golf media and made stops at Sports Illustrated, Golf Digest and most recently Golf Channel, passed away Tuesday at the age of 66 after a brief battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Said his former colleague and friend, Rich Lerner: “Our colleague Tim Rosaforte passed away today after a battle with aggressive Alzheimer’s. Just 66. Beloved in golf. Broke stories, but never his word. Unselfish, tough but tender, trusted friend who’d do anything for you, a genuinely good soul. May his memory be a blessing.”
Here is a collection of tributes, as Rosaforte’s peers and players remember the life and career of one of golf’s original insiders:
Our colleague Tim Rosaforte passed away today after a battle with aggressive Alzheimer’s. Just 66. Beloved in golf. Broke stories, but never his word. Unselfish, tough but tender, trusted friend who’d do anything for you, a genuinely good soul. May his memory be a blessing.
— Rich Lerner (@RichLernerGC) January 11, 2022
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. pic.twitter.com/VbTSbaj5az
— Jack Nicklaus (@jacknicklaus) January 11, 2022
Statement from PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan pic.twitter.com/JIUFu6oWun
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) January 11, 2022
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 https://t.co/lBDMFqaVhc
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) January 12, 2022
We all lost a good friend today. Way too soon. He was my brother. My bodyguard. A blocking back. The Godfather of golf journalism. I never wanted to let him down. Like so many of you, I feel lucky to have had him in my life. May T-Rose have a well-deserved Rest In Peace.🌹😢 pic.twitter.com/WGXWR0wF0Q
— Matt Ginella (@MattGinella) January 11, 2022
Tim Rosaforte was a great friend to the game.
— USGA (@USGA) January 11, 2022
Everyone at the USGA extends our deepest condolences to the entire Rosaforte family. https://t.co/C1pgYbKBQz pic.twitter.com/f9NB57xFkx
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. pic.twitter.com/vpP6oi9B7Z
— Zach Johnson (@ZachJohnsonPGA) January 11, 2022
Awful, awful news. RIP, Rosie 🙏 https://t.co/sduDAK71Un
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) January 11, 2022
Just got off the course & crestfallen to hear the news of Tim Rosaforte’s passing. Our stage manager, Alex Andrews, tells a story abt Rosy, that anytime someone new was on set, he would quietly ask her for their name, so he could address them properly. He was all class. Sad day.
— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) January 11, 2022
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. pic.twitter.com/vHh7bMdqO1
— Arnold Palmer (@ArnoldPalmer) January 12, 2022
Beautiful tribute on Tim Rosaforte on GC. What Eamon just said is so true. Tim always, always had a word of encouragement for younger journalists. I looked up to him. I carried what he said with me, often surprised he even knew my name. Today, the industry mourns a great man. pic.twitter.com/Zlhw1YVOM9
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) January 11, 2022
Tim Rosaforte was the ultimate reporter and teammate, a friend who never blinked when you needed help. He was tough and vulnerable, serious and witty. He was real. Thank you, Rosie. Blessed to have known you and to have followed in your large footsteps. Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/ptmrVObJB0
— Damon Hack (@damonhackGC) January 11, 2022
I'm gutted to hear about the death of Tim Rosaforte. We were comrades at SI in the mid-90s. Rosey was a great mentor and friend and a spirited golf companion. Also competitive as hell; later, he put me in a headlock in the Masters press room. I loved the guy and already miss him.
— Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck) January 11, 2022
It’s appropriate, Kevin. I’ll say it a third time. On top of the kindness, there was decency and fairness as well as a tireless work ethic. A real care about the job and doing it correctly. Met Tim early in my Golf Chanel days and was lucky to call him a friend.
— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) January 11, 2022
Sad day in the golf world. Rosey will be missed. Always one of the good guys and well respected amongst all the players https://t.co/rpn2kZXriP
— Harris English (@Harris_English) January 11, 2022
Just heard about the passing of Tim Rosaforte. He was a legend in golf journalism and good friend. Everyone loved him. Had the pleasure of working with him @GolfChannel @NBCSports No one was more respected, and more loved. We’ll miss you Rosie. ❤️❤️
— Dan Hicks (@DanHicksNBC) January 11, 2022
More than a writer, Tim was a reporter. Sources talked to him because they trusted him. And they trusted him because he never betrayed them or misrepresented them. Journalism is diminished with his passing. https://t.co/TLrJMe24FT
— Ron Sirak (@ronsirak) January 11, 2022
I’m heartbroken by Tim’s passing. As trusted a man and voice covering the game as we’ve all known. Nobody competed to do good TV like Rosie. 🙏🏻 https://t.co/lbjitiuBL6
— Gary Williams (@Garywilliams1Up) January 11, 2022
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. https://t.co/LQfUHMLPUa
— Smylie Kaufman (@SmylieKaufman10) January 11, 2022
An inspirational and remarkable man for many many reasons. An honour to have met him and seen just a small glimpse into how much he put he into everything he did. The ultimate professional. Rest Peacefully Rosie https://t.co/IXNgmwHi1P
— Anna Jackson (@AnnaJacksonGC) January 12, 2022
From Day 1 @GolfChannel there was no one more welcoming than @RosaforteGolf, a master of his craft he was the ultimate teammate.
— George Savaricas (@GeorgeSavaricas) January 12, 2022
The game and our business are better for the time we got to share with Rosie, my thoughts go out to his family and he'll always be in our hearts. https://t.co/Vb8Ea5InV3
I got to know Rosie in the years I was playing on Tour…..and then later on he was one of the first people I worked with on TV @GolfChannel.
— Trevor Immelman (@TrevorImmelman) January 12, 2022
What a good, solid man……honest, fair, helpful, encouraging just a few of his many attributes.
RIP friend….🙏 https://t.co/fEOmIIsgmz
Really sad,
— Thomas Bjørn (@thomasbjorngolf) January 12, 2022
Tim was a wonderful journalist but more importantly a lovely man.
The conversations you could have with Tim about our game were brilliant.
He will be dearly missed by everyone.
😢 https://t.co/xomQGWpjZE
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 🙏🏼 https://t.co/N5CvSpHKNy
— Luke Donald (@LukeDonald) January 12, 2022
— excel sports (@excelsm) January 11, 2022
Statements from @NBCSports Chairman Pete Bevacqua and @GolfChannel Executive Producer Molly Solomon on Tim Rosaforte. pic.twitter.com/T63FIwIwfM
— Golf Channel PR (@GolfChannelPR) January 11, 2022
Tim was also very kind. One night he offered me Elton John tickets. Turns out they were backstage passes. My wife and I danced stage left to Tiny Dancer. Tim, we will never let the sun go down on you. https://t.co/G9rrQranVD
— Todd Lewis (@ToddLewisGC) January 11, 2022
So sorry to learn of Tim Rosaforte’s passing. What a great pro. He made golf better. RIP Rosie. https://t.co/CdaJTwmb9F
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) January 11, 2022
One of the best. Always enjoyed my times visiting with Tim. RIP my friend. 🙏🙏 https://t.co/RPr6myND9N
— Ryan Palmer (@RyanPalmerPGA) January 11, 2022
A wonderful man that truly loved the game. He will be missed by the many that loved listening to him and reading his great work. My heart goes out to his family and many friends. 💕@pga https://t.co/ojXv3JfiBv
— Suzy Whaley (@suzywhaley) January 11, 2022
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.
— David Duval (@david59duval) January 11, 2022
I always loved this scene at the Association of Golf Writers dinner. While everyone was dining and boozing prior to the 2015 Open, there was Tim Rosaforte putting the finishing touches on a story. Hardest working man in the golf business! pic.twitter.com/aZRO9hrbOn
— Geoff Shackelford (@GeoffShac) January 11, 2022
Golf lost a giant today. Great writer/reporter, mentor, friend. Incredibly kind, always professional. One of the original two-phone guys. Rest in eternal peace, #TimRosaforte. You walked this path the right way, and we know you’re in a better place. 💔@RosaforteGolf #OnlyOneRosie pic.twitter.com/pndwJyMBT6
— Jeff Babineau (@JeffBabz62) January 11, 2022
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.
— LPGA (@LPGA) January 11, 2022
We extend our condolences to Tim's family and friends. https://t.co/rcV5SMKO6o
The world went completely silent today. Tim was beyond a colleague. Beyond a friend. Talking to him was special. There’s a very real reason why he was referred to as “the insider”. People trusted him. God speed, Rosie. Even a place like Heaven is better because you are there. pic.twitter.com/nZGADx1G1d
— Lauren Thompson (@LThompsonGC) January 11, 2022
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. pic.twitter.com/AVQgihm3QN
— Rich Beem (@beemerpga) January 11, 2022
One of my last texts from Tim Rosaforte was him asking questions about a piece I had written on Akshay Bhatia. Akshay! He wanted to know more, dig deeper, and as a writer he pushed you to do the same. A titan of every media center he entered but treated everyone as peers. RIP.
— Will Gray (@WillGrayGolfbet) January 11, 2022
Maybe the ultimate testament to Tim Rosaforte's influence on me is that I've spent the past hour writing and then deleting tweets trying to articulate what he meant to me. I can't do it. "It's too big," we'd sometimes say when bleeding over an important story. That was Tim to me.
— Sam Weinman (@samweinman) January 11, 2022
Beautiful tribute by Jaime Diaz on Tim Rosaforte. Can almost hear Tim's voice at the end. Great man, great mentor, sad day.https://t.co/viga6AGooy
— Doug Ferguson (@dougferguson405) January 11, 2022
Tim Rosaforte was a great man who loved the sport of golf. He will be dearly missed. https://t.co/8YaQu1gWDM
— Graeme McDowell (@Graeme_McDowell) January 11, 2022
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 pic.twitter.com/D3qCFF5t3q
— GWAA (@gwaa1946) January 11, 2022
Just learned of the passing of Tim Rosaforte. Tim, Jaime Diaz and I shared a tri-pod cubicle in Golf Channel’s newsroom. He was the anchor. Kind, tenacious, fair, honest, smart. He was these and 1,000 more. Rest well, my friend 🙏 pic.twitter.com/t1ktZncewj
— MattAdamsGC/FoL (@MattAdamsFoL) January 11, 2022
So incredibly sad about the passing of my friend and colleague #TimRosaforte. 66 years is far too short a time for this sweet, generous soul to have been with us. Thinking of his family. @GolfChannel @GolfDigest @GolfWorld @PGATOUR @PGA
— Jimmy Roberts (@JimmyRobertsNBC) January 11, 2022
Incredibly sad news….I worked with Tim for a long time at Golf Channel and his work spoke for itself. But beyond being an award winning writer and TV Insider he was a terrific person and one I enjoyed working with and talking to. Rest in piece Rosie https://t.co/OLI0C91IQu
— andrew bradley (@bradsgolf23) January 11, 2022
You know that guy at the office who you were always happy to see and every single person adored him?
— Chantel McCabe (@chantel_mccabe) January 11, 2022
That was Rosie.
Ugh this one is pulling at my heart.
We lost a really good one.
😔 pic.twitter.com/srQUyRD0pe
Just awful. RIP to a legend for so many different reasons. 😢 https://t.co/yAPsgYx309
— Jay Coffin ⚰️ (@JayCoffin) January 11, 2022
remember being anxious one of early times I did GC & crossed paths with Tim down there — he was the kinda legend I’d watched that could’ve made me *more* anxious, but he was super kind & encouraging & it put me at ease. Same in press tents. Like that everywhere & to all it seems https://t.co/B6AlIiNjpL
— Brendan Porath (@BrendanPorath) January 11, 2022
Gutted.
— Ryan Burr (@RyanBurr) January 11, 2022
Man, I spent so much time with is wonderful man. Not a bad bone in his body, studied, practiced so hard to be ready for tv. Damn. RIP ROSIE! https://t.co/UGEMGXLhCC
Heartbreaking news. Rosie was a trailblazer in the golf-media world — an award-winning writer, then a super-connected TV insider. Passionate about his work, consummate teammate, quality human. He’ll be missed! https://t.co/GN0PESOP8e
— Ryan Lavner (@RyanLavnerGC) January 11, 2022
Rosie was a friend to so many, and I was fortunate to call him a mentor. Even after he left Golf Digest, we kept in touch and he was always quick with a compliment or word of encouragement.
— Stephen Hennessey (@S_HennesseyGD) January 11, 2022
The absolute worst news. One of the titans in our industry gone way too soon https://t.co/GZ7zsA8WcO
Awful news about Tim Rosaforte. Worked with Rosie at a few different places. Classy guy, terrific reporter. Will miss him. RIP.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) January 11, 2022
An old school reporter and unfailingly encouraging to those who followed him. R.I.P. https://t.co/uLVyuZd7Ag
— Eamon Lynch (@eamonlynch) January 11, 2022
It was always wonderful to run into Tim Rosaforte whenever he was in Pinehurst. He will be dearly missed.
— Pinehurst Resort (@PinehurstResort) January 11, 2022
I can’t believe it. Too soon. Tim was an idol, a mentor and a friend. He set the bar for so many and leaves a giant void in the world of golf. May you rest in peace, Rosie. https://t.co/Ucg8zo8ulz
— Stina Sternberg (@StinaSternberg) January 11, 2022
wow, that's tough to read. RIP my friend - you left your mark on our game! Honored to have called you a friend. https://t.co/obxCCJ39I8
— Michael Whan (@USGAMike) January 11, 2022
Tremendous loss. A giant in golf journalism who had kindness in abundance. When I was a nobody covering my first major, he sat down at lunch and talked with me for an hour about Tiger. He had kindness in abundance. https://t.co/DEra3Gegv5
— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) January 11, 2022
I hope Tim sees all the beautiful things that will be said about him. If there’s someone in your life that you love, respect, cherish, don’t wait for hard times or tragedy … let them know https://t.co/1ETZOw159b
— Joel Beall (@JoelMBeall) January 11, 2022
My heart is hurting so bad right now. I know he's in a better place and at peace but damn this hurts. Godspeed King. Tim gave the unconditional love we all try to. https://t.co/WAtle3j2Nm
— Michael Collins (@ESPNCaddie) January 11, 2022
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.https://t.co/YUwy0611ko
— PGA of America (@PGA) January 11, 2022
When his retirement was announced I sent him a text, knowing he’d be bombarded with well wishes. That just wouldn’t do for Rosie though. He immediately called me and we talked golf, baseball and family for half an hour. Rest easy, pro. You are missed.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) January 11, 2022
Tim Rosaforte was a titan of our industry. The insider's insider. Treated everyone with the utmost respect. You won't find anyone who'll say a bad word about him, and that's the strongest legacy anyone can leave. Alzheimer's is the worst. This is brutal. https://t.co/ZD8QoUR1lA
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) January 11, 2022
2013, I was waiting at PGA National for a Golf Channel job interview with @GeoffRussellGC . I ran into Tim Rosaforte who I’d known for years having grown up playing golf in Palm Beach County. Rosie had just finished his round and wanted to know what I was doing.
— Ari Marcus (@AriMarcus59) January 11, 2022
Tim had the greatest rolodex in golf media. The original insider. A great example for us young reporters and writers to aspire to be like. Rest in peace, Rosie. https://t.co/unzngT07oN
— Brentley Romine (@BrentleyGC) January 11, 2022
RIP, Mr. Rosaforte. Had the pleasure of sitting next to him at Rolex Dinner of Champions in 2016. I was like a kid in a candy store. It was an honor, sir! https://t.co/oY7AeXicEY pic.twitter.com/jGzflFGRkh
— Jeff Goodwin (@DrJeffGoodwin) January 11, 2022
Absolutely gutted to hear about @RosaforteGolf passing. He’s been sick for a few years so I knew this day would come, doesn’t make it easier. Rosie was kind, a friend who was unselfish & always more concerned with how I was doing than himself. Godspeed my sharp dressed friend pic.twitter.com/7ilwSegdo9
— RINK 🐊🙏🏻 (@KevinRinker) January 11, 2022
I’m gutted to hear of the passing of Tim Rosaforte. He worked so hard & was always so pleasant. He often reached out for insight on or from @ANNIKA59. If you said something was “off the record,” you didn’t need to worry. Our thoughts & prayers go out to his family. RIP Rosie. 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/7hsjRn1VLI
— Mike McGee (@MikeMcGeeAnnika) January 12, 2022
