Jeff Babineau honored with Tim Rosaforte Distinguished Journalist Award

The Cognizant Classic and PGA Tour announced that the late Jeff Babineau will receive the 2025 Tim Rosaforte Distinguished Journalist Award. Babineau, a beloved figure in golf journalism, passed away on December 9.

Babineau's journey in sports journalism began in 1986 with the Orlando Sentinel, where he covered golf alongside NFL, NHL, and college sports. In 1998, he joined Orlando-based Golfweek as a senior writer and deputy editor before ascending to editor in 2008. Affectionately known as "Babs" throughout the golf world, he served as editor until 2014 when he returned to his true passion—writing about the game he loved. In 2017, Babineau departed Golfweek to pursue freelance opportunities, including at the PGA Tour.

Throughout his distinguished career, Babineau covered hundreds of professional golf tournaments across the PGA Tour, LPGA, major championships, Presidents Cups, and Ryder Cups. His dedication to golf journalism extended to leadership roles within the industry, serving as president of the Golf Writers Association of America from 2015 to 2017. At the time of his passing, he was serving as the organization's secretary.

"Jeff would be so honored to receive this award," said his wife Jane. "He admired Rosie very much—he was one of his guys. He used the word 'mentor' frequently, and always considered Rosie among the best in the business."

The award's namesake, Tim Rosaforte, was himself a giant in golf journalism, serving as a senior writer at Golf Digest for over two decades and as a respected Golf Channel broadcaster. Rosaforte's contributions to golf earned him the PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism in 2014. In 2020, the PGA of America granted him an honorary membership, making him the first journalist and just the 12th individual ever to receive such an honor. Following his passing, the Cognizant Classic (formerly the Honda Classic)—the PGA Tour event in Rosaforte's hometown of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida–established the Rosaforte Award and dedicated its media center in his memory. Previous recipients include accomplished journalists Larry Dorman, Randall Mell, and Craig Dolch.