Tim Rosaforte Dies: “Golf’s Insider,” Golf Channel & NBC Sports Announcer Was 66
12.01.2022 - 05:39
/ deadline.com
Golf journalist Tim Rosaforte got the type of tribute today from Jack Nicklaus that journalists usually heap on legends like Jack Nicklaus. Rosaforte, who was one of the top golf journalists in the world and one of the most popular announcers on Golf Channel and NBC Sports, died Tuesday of Alzheimer’s Disease. He was 66.
Nicklaus began a three-tweet tribute to Rosaforte with the following: “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.”
The idea of trust comes up repeatedly in a video the golf great posted of his final visit with Roasforte last year, in which they speak about their bond, respect and, as Rosaforte puts it, “what’s going on with me, medically.”
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. pic.twitter.com/RWYfqLEgCp
— Jack Nicklaus (@jacknicklaus) January 11, 2022
Rosie, as he was known, played football in college where, as an undersized linebacker, he used smarts and tenacity to make a mark.
After school, he brought those traits to the Tampa Times, where he got his first journalism job in 1977. He later moved 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,