Why are the golfers wearing yellow ribbons at the Honda Classic 2022?

Players and caddies at this week’s Honda Classic are wearing purple ribbons in tribute to renowned golf journalist Tim Rosaforte, who passed away last month.

Early clubhouse leader Kurt Kitayama, who shot an opening 6-under-par 64, was joined by the likes of Zach Johnson, Mackenzie Hughes, Cameron Young, Russell Knox and Lee Hodges in sporting the tribute, adorned with the esteemed Golf Channel insider’s nickname ‘Rosie’, at his home event at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens. The Honda Classic media centre was also renamed as the Tim Rosaforte media center.

Born in New York, Rosaforte graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Rhode Island in 1977 and got his break in journalism in Florida at the Tampa Times before moving into the golf world. He covered 125 Majors - including every Masters from 1983-2019 - and 17 Ryder Cups for the Golf Channel, Golf Digest and Sports Illustrated. He retired in December 2019.

Rosaforte was the recipient of the PGA of America's Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism and became the first journalist to be awarded a lifetime membership of the PGA. He passed away on January 12th at the age of 66 from Alzeimer’s disease. 

As well as the Golf Channel, Rosaforte was known for his writing with GolfChannel.com, Golf Digest and Sports Illustrated. His Celebration of Life was held last week at Christ Fellowship in Palm Beach Gardens.

On hearing of his death, some of the biggest names in golf, including Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson, took to twitter to pay tribute to a journalist known for his close relationships with the players.

Many of the world's best golfers are competing in Florida this week at the 2022 The Honda Classic, and you'll notice many are playing while wearing a purple ribbon on their hats or clothes this week.

The reason players are wearing a purple ribbon on is in memory of legendary golf journalist Tim Rosaforte.

Rosaforte died in January at the age of 66 after a relatively short battle with early-onset Alzheimer's disease, forcing him to step away from his job as Golf Channel insider and reporter.

Rosaforte is one of the most important and influential golf journalists in the history of the profession. He worked at GolfWorld and Golf Digest before making the transition to television with Golf Channel in 2007. After working dual roles in print and TV, Rosaforte went exclusively to just working in TV.

Rosaforte was the original golf insider, with a deeper Rolodex than anyone in golf. His work ethic was incredible, and his treatment of people, including his sources, media peers and others, was even more amazing.

In 2014, Rosaforte was honored by the PGA of America with honorary membership, something the association has only ever given to a dozen people.

Players also wore purple ribbons -- with purple the color of the Alzheimer's Foundation -- the week he passed away, during the Sony Open in Hawaii. The Honda Classic was Rosie's hometown tournament, and the event's media center has been named in his honor.

Throughout the week, players, media and those in the industry have paid tribute to Rosie.

Donations also can be made anytime by visiting www.playyellow.org .

The "Play Yellow" theme is inspired by the yellow shirts that Nicklaus often wore in the final round of tournaments in honor of Craig Smith, the son of a close friend who was fighting bone cancer. Craig died in 1971 at the age of 13.

In the final round of the 1986 Masters, the Golden Bear wore a yellow shirt to again honor Craig, and he went on to win his sixth green jacket.

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