American golf journalist Steve DiMeglio, a long-time writer for Golfweek and USA TODAY, has died from cancer at the age of 63.
DiMeglio, who switched to covering golf in 2002, after previously reporting on baseball, was a regular at PGA Tour events and Major Championships for nearly two decades.
After being diagnosed with cancer in 2022, he documented his journey with the illness, which included dozens of rounds of chemotherapy, to his followers on social media.
A graduate of Mankato West High School in Minnesota and later Minnesota State University, DiMeglio began his professional career as a journalist in 1994 at the Palm Springs Desert Sun. He moved to the Gannett-owned USA TODAY in 2000 and several years later took over as the newspaper’s full-time golf reporter. Gannett acquired Golfweek in 2016, and from 2019 DiMeglio’s byline began to appear in Golfweek, for whom he continued to write up until 2023.
Throughout his career as a journalist, DiMeglio enjoyed a close working relationship with Tiger Woods, whom he covered since he broke into the professional ranks in 1996. And following the devastating news of his death, the 15-time major winner led the tributes to DiMeglio on social media.
‘Unfortunately, the golf world lost part of our family today, beloved golf writer Steve DiMeglio,’ Woods wrote. ‘I was always very close to Steve, and we texted and talked about how he needed to keep fighting to get better so we could see each other in the Bahamas last month. And we did. I am so grateful for that. This a very sad day for all of golf. We have truly lost a friend.’
The PGA Tour also marked the loss of DiMeglio, whom a spokesperson described as being ‘beloved by players’.
‘The PGA Tour joins the golf world in mourning the loss of our friend, golf journalist Steve DiMeglio,’ their statement read. “A fixture at Tour events for nearly two decades and beloved by players, he inspired us all with his unique perspective, humor and love of the game, even in the midst of his recent, arduous battle with cancer. In the words of our friend Steve, “Onward.”’