In 2026, people are diversifying their jobs, with many digital nomads choosing a variety of professions. Although golf journalism has been around for well over a century, it is still viewed as a niche career path. As a golf journalist leads an intriguing working life, many people are curious about their journey and workday. This article will explore what it’s really like for media journalists covering professional golf across the PGA Tour.
The Journey of a Media Journalist
Having a career covering professional golf usually stems from having a personal interest in golf. As journalist Tim Rosaforte stated; ‘it’s something [he] can participate in as well as write about,’ meaning that his passion for the sport allowed him to turn his existing interest in the sport into a career. The next step for many people is to get a formal qualification, such as a degree in journalism, sports journalism or a related subject. From there, many people get practical experience such as writing for a local magazine or sports website where they build up a portfolio. As their experience grows, journalists can progress to larger sports publications or golf outlets, where they may be given the opportunity to report on PGA Tour events. While media journalists give fans the inside scoop, platforms such as DraftKings Sportsbook provide another way for audiences to follow and engage with major sporting events, allowing them to keep track of tournaments straight from their mobile device.
A Media Journalist’s Routine on Tournament Days
For many golf journalists, covering major golf tournaments and events means waking up early and arriving before the players do. They will typically review the day’s schedule, check player updates and come up with ideas for articles. When the action begins, journalists will keep an eye on what’s happening and may interview players to get quotes. During the tournament, journalists are constantly on the move, working from different locations depending on what they’ve been tasked to do. For example, Jason Sobel, who is an award-winning golf journalist and SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio host, has spent reporting from inside PGA Tour events, media trucks and broadcast booths. When the event is over, they will gather all their material and write golf-related pieces for a deadline. For many golf journalists, the work is never done as they continue researching upcoming tournaments, monitoring player developments and preparing stories between events.
The Benefits of Being a Media Journalist
As golf journalists are close to the action, they are given considerable access to the inner circles of professional golfers and associations. For instance, they are typically permitted to interview players, coaches and tournament officials to give audiences a special insight into behind the scenes. However, it’s important to note that not every golf journalist has the same level of access, as this can vary depending on their role, accreditation and the event they are covering. For instance, the PGA Tour determines which areas individual media members can access, with certain spaces, including locker rooms and areas inside the ropes, restricted to journalists with specific permissions.
Golf journalism can also open the door to other impressive opportunities, allowing people to diversify their careers across different areas of the media industry. For instance, Dylan Dethier, who is a multimedia journalist, podcast host and author currently appears as a featured journalist in Full Swing, Netflix’s PGA Tour docuseries, and hosts the podcast The Drop Zone. This demonstrates how specialising in golf journalism can be a springboard for pursuing other forms of media with many golf journalists authoring their own books about their experiences over the years and helping other journalists to get ahead in their career.
Key Duties and Responsibilities of a Media Journalist
A media journalist’s main responsibility is to provide accurate, fair and timely information to their audience, while ensuring that their reporting is based on verified facts and presented without bias. This can be a time-consuming process which involves researching stories, checking information and complying with professional journalistic ethics. Meeting deadlines is particularly important in sports journalism because events can develop rapidly. As golf is incredibly popular, there is also competition between media outlets to break major stories first, making speed an important part of the job. However, journalists cannot just submit stories on a whim as they have to be proofread first.
Ultimately, for people who love sports, the life and work of a golf journalist can be an intriguing one. While some enter the profession with qualifications, others can take alternative routes by gaining practical experience and developing contacts within the industry. Being a golf journalist can also come with benefits such as being close to golf professionals and paving the way for opportunities in other areas of the sports and media industries. In the future, it’s likely that being a media journalist will be a favoured career path for many who have a passion for sports like golf.