As the year 2025 comes to a close, we take a look back at some of the prominent figures in the golf world that we lost.
And that includes one of our own. Steve DiMeglio, who covered golf for USA TODAY and Golfweek, lost his battle with cancer at the beginning of the year.
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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 media company Gannett in 1999, joined USA TODAY in 2000 and a couple of years later took over as the full-time golf beat writer. Gannett acquired Golfweek in 2016, and DiMeglio’s byline began to appear under the Golfweek banner in 2019. He continued to write for Golfweek until 2023.
Steve DiMeglio
Steve DiMeglio of Golfweek poses on the 18th hole at Augusta National. Photo courtesy of Steve DiMeglio
Read: Steve DiMeglio was a Golfweek/USA Today golf reporter who covered the PGA Tour
Mary Bryan
Mary Bryan
Read: Former LPGA player Mary Bryan was also a pioneer in TV broadcast and a college coach
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Tom Place
Read: Tom Place was known as the PGA Tour’s info ‘one-man show’
Kultida Woods
Tiger Wood’s mother Kultida Woods, center, watches him play during the first round of the Honda Classic golf tournament in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Thursday, March 1, 2012.
Read: Kultida Woods was the mother of Tiger Woods, who called her his biggest fan
John Feinstein
John Feinstein and Hale Irwin at the 2017 SiriusXM Broadcasts From The Masters in Augusta, Georgia.
Read: John Feinstein wrote ‘A Good Walk Spoiled’ among numerous golf books
Peter McEvoy
Peter McEvoy was a two-time winner of the Amateur Championship who represented England on six Walker Cup teams.
Read: Peter McEvoy was one of England’s top amateur golfers who played in six Walker Cups
Jay Sigel
Jay Sigel at the 2006 Commerce Bank Championship on the Red Course at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, New York.
Read: Jay Sigel was an amateur golf legend with 11 Masters appearances
J.C. Snead
J.C. Snead at the 1987 Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club.
Read: J.C. Snead was an eight-time PGA Tour winner and nephew of Hall of Famer Sam Snead
Jim Dent
Senior Tour star Jim Dent shows off the trophy for winning the 1995 BellSouth Senior Classic at Opryland’s Springhouse Golf Course on June 11, 1995.
Read: Jim Dent was one of the best Black golfers of his era
Jo Ann Prentice
Jo Ann Prentice watches a putt during the 1976 Colgate European Women’s Open at the Sunningdale Golf Club in Berkshire, England.
Read: Jo Ann Prentice won six times on LPGA
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Tom Cousins
East Lake Golf Club chairman Tom Cousins at the 2004 Tour Championship in Atlanta, Georgia
Read: Tom Cousins was the visionary behind East Lake’s urban renewal project in Atlanta
Junior Bridgeman
A moment of silence is observed for Junior Bridgeman before an NBA game in Milwaukee.
Read: Junior Bridgeman was a PGA board member and former NBA player
Peter Kuchar
Matt Kuchar hands a club to his caddie and father, Peter, on the fourth hole during the final round of the 2023 PNC Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club.
Read: Peter Kuchar was the father of PGA Tour standout Matt Kuchar
Ed Fiori
Ed Fiori hits a shot during the second round of the 2024 Toshiba Senior Classic at the Newport Beach Country Club.
Read: Ed Fiori was a four-time PGA Tour winner who once chased down Tiger Woods
Dan Baker
Dan Baker (left) spent nearly 17 years with the PGA of America.
Read: Dan Baker was a respected golf industry veteran who spent nearly 17 years with the PGA of America
Bob Bubka
XM radio announcers Mark Carnevale and Bob Bubka during the first round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia on November 3, 2005.
Read: Bob Bubka was one of the longtime voices of golf
Jim Carras
Jim Carras, who coached the men’s golf team at the University of Michigan for 19 years, passed away June 21, 2025, at age 92.
Read: Jim Carras was the longtime men’s golf coach at Michigan
Marion Herrington
Seve Ballesteros and Augusta National Golf Club caddie Marion Herrington during the 1980 Masters.
Read: Longtime Augusta National caddie Marion Herrington helped Seve Ballesteros win the 1980 Masters
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Mike Hill
Lee Trevino hugs Mike Hill after the second round of the 2004 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf in Savannah, Georgia.
Read: Mike Hill was a PGA Tour Champions winner who teamed up with Lee Trevino
John Harris
John Harris birdies the first playoff hole to beat Tom Jenkins and win the 2006 Commerce Bank Championship on the Red Course at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, New York.
Read: John Harris was the last mid-amateur to win the U.S. Amateur
Frank Wharton
Frank Wharton served as the head golf pro at Fairlawn Country Club in Akron, Ohio.
Read: Former PGA Tour player Frank Wharton was also a three-time NCAA champ
Cody “Beef” Franke
Cody “Beef” Franke died at the age of 31.
Read: Cody ‘Beef’ Franke was a golf pro and popular content creator
Fuzzy Zoeller
Fuzzy Zoeller celebrates after winning the 2002 Senior PGA Championship at Firestone Country Club in Akron.
Read: Fuzzy Zoeller was a two-time major winner and one of three rookies to win the Masters
‘Jumbo’ Ozaki
Masashi “Jumbo” Ozaki watches his drive on the second hole during the first round at the 1998 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club.
More: Masashi ‘Jumbo’ Ozaki, larger-than-life Japanese star, dead at 78
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Famous people in golf who died in 2025
