NEW YORK, NY – Writers and editors from GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com were recognized with six awards from the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA) on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, for their work in 2025. The awards, announced by the GWAA, a nonprofit organization founded in 1946, honor excellence in golf journalism.
Michael Bamberger, a longtime writer for GOLF, secured two first-place honors. He was recognized in the Short Profile category for “RIP, Fuzzy, a man in full,” a tribute to the late Masters champion Fuzzy Zoeller. Bamberger also received the top prize in the Long Feature category for “9/11 in New York City from Long Island club,” a story focusing on Kevin Williams, a National Golf Links caddie who died in the September 11th terrorist attacks.
According to a judge’s statement released with the awards, the “9/11 story was gut-wrenching and made me as a reader think of how fate can deal a cruel hand.” Bamberger’s career total now stands at 12 GWAA awards, marking his third consecutive year receiving at least one top honor. He also earned a third-place award in the Commentary/Analysis division.
GOLF.com colleague Nick Piastowski also received a first-place award in the Short Feature category for “A golf course marshal was dying. Then he felt his best friend’s paw,” a story about Hank Ford, a Marine and Army veteran, and his recovery from PTSD with the help of his yellow lab, Tommy.
Sean Zak received second-place honors in the Short Profile category for “She won 5 majors, then switched from righty to lefty,” and an Honorable Mention in the Long Feature category for “What I learned playing 36 U.S. Open holes in 36 hours.” Josh Berhow earned second-place honors in the Long Profile category for “Rachel Heck didn’t necessitate pro golf. She wanted something more” and also received an Honorable Mention in the News/Game Story category for “In hours after US Open, Spaun’s best moment was unscripted”.
GOLF.com earned a total of eight top-three placements, including a sweep of the top three spots in the Long Feature category, with Bamberger’s “Tiger 2000 was best run ever” taking third place, and Oliver Horovitz’s “Bhutan might be world’s most pleasant golf destination” earning second.
“I could not be more proud of our immensely talented group of writers and of the amazing honors that were bestowed upon them by the Golf Writers Association of America,” said Jason Adel, CEO of GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com. “Nick Piastowski, Sean Zak, Josh Berhow and our stalwart Michael Bamberger are among the best in the business, and are all richly deserving of these awards.”
Howard Milstein, GOLF’s publisher and Chairman of 8AM Golf, stated, “It is with great pride that I congratulate our fine writers, editors, and the entire team who build GOLF magazine and GOLF.com the premier destination for education, product information and editorial content. We are honored by these awards, and look forward to continuing our success in the years to come.”
The GWAA will officially recognize the contest winners at the 52nd annual ISPS Handa GWAA Awards Dinner on Wednesday, April 8, at Augusta Country Club, the night before the start of the 90th Masters Tournament.