What makes a sport all the more fun apart from the players playing the tournaments? It is undoubtedly a good reporter who weaves around fun anecdotes both on and off the course through his reporting. Well, it is needless to say that Steve DiMeglio was one such soul for the golf community. Be it through his fun banter with the pros, or his reporting on their personal lives, he made sure that he kept the audience entertained. And that too for over two decades! However, his words will no longer appear in the columns. After a rough battle with cancer, the 63-year-old left for his heavenly abode, leaving the golf community left with a void that can never be filled. 

A graduate of Mankato West High School in Minnesota and Minnesota State University, Steve DiMeglio began his journalism career in 1994 at the Palm Springs Desert Sun. He joined media company Gannett in 1999 and became a part of USA TODAY in 2000. A few years later, he took on the role of full-time golf beat writer. In 2016, when Gannett acquired Golfweek, DiMeglio’s bylines began appearing in the publication, and he continued writing for Golfweek until 2023. His career was long-set, but all was not well on other fronts.

On July 22, 2022, DiMeglio was diagnosed with rectal cancer that had subsequently spread to his liver. Throughout his treatment, which involved numerous rounds of chemotherapy, he remained open about his journey. To keep track of his treatments, he would reference the jersey numbers of sports legends. DiMeglio frequently shared updates on his progress and, at times, openly spoke about his pain on social media, hoping to inspire others to get cancer screenings or simply stay connected with his many friends in the golf world. Recently, the American Cancer Society released a touching video at TPC Sawgrass, highlighting DiMeglio’s courageous battle with the disease.

Six months later, he also wrote, “On this date 6 months ago I was told I had Stage 4 cancer. Asked how long would I live without treatment. Doc said 6 months. Forever indebted to the wonders of modern medicine, machinery, and doctors & nurses who have helped me vs this evil. To another 6 months & another. Onward”

Steve DiMeglio was so deeply in love with golf, that even during the final days of struggle, he made it to the golf course to have the adrenaline rush. And it was a day to remember for the veteran, for his excitement at at meeting friends old and new was palpable.

Steve DiMeglio returned for the 2023 Hero World Challenge

Steve DiMeglio was a popular name among the pros, because of his wit and kind nature. He had many friends, but out of all the friends that he had, he boasted about his relationship with Tiger Woods the most. Sixteen months after the diagnosis he came back to the Bahamas at the Hero World Challenge. In excitement, he even wrote, “First time I’d seen Tiger in 16 months. Great to see him and the other players. Good for the spirits.” He even shared the excitement of being able to chat with some of his favorite players on the tour including Justin Thomas, Keegan Bradley, Jason Day, and caddie Joey LaCava. In fact, among a host of PGA and LPGA athletes, Woods, in fact, grieved the loss of his dear friend too in a post.

DiMeglio, with his persona larger than life, loved traveling and covering golf, and would travel to almost two dozen golf championships every year. However, the Stage 4 cancer diagnosis ultimately restricted him to the four walls of his home, as he would tire out. Broken in body but not in spirit, he continued tracking the sport he dedicated his life to. This loss did indeed come as a shocker to the golf world, even though it was expected. Nonetheless, it surely will take a lot of time to move past the hollow grief of losing him.