Michael Bamberger added to his legacy in the Golf Writers Association of America 2026 Writing Contest, winning two first-place honors as his employer, Golf.com, claimed three of the seven top prizes.
Bamberger was recognized in the Short Profile category for his work “RIP, Fuzzy, a man in full” on the life of the late Fuzzy Zoeller, a Masters champion.
Bamberger also was honored in the Long Feature category for “9/11 in New York City from Long Island club” about National Golf Links caddie Kevin Williams on the 24th anniversary of his death in the terrorist attacks.
“The 9/11 story was gut-wrenching and made me as a reader think of how fate can deal a cruel hand,” one of the contest judges said.
For Bamberger, the longtime Sports Illustrated golf writer, the first-place prizes raise his career tally to 12 in the annual GWAA contest. It was his third consecutive year with at least one top honor. Bamberger also claimed third-place honors in the Long Feature and Commentary/Analysis divisions as Golf.com compiled eight top-three spots overall, including a 1-2-3 sweep in the Long Feature category.
Bamberger’s colleague Nick Piastowski earned the other first-place honor for Golf.com. He won the Short Feature category for “A golf course marshal was dying. Then he felt his best friend’s paw” about Hank Ford, a Marine and Army veteran from Colorado, and recovery from PTSD via golf and his life-saving 3-year-old yellow lab, Tommy. “There were so many great features, it was really hard to narrow it down,” a judge said. “In the end, it’s hard not to love man’s best friend!”
Golf Digest emerged as the other top publisher in the GWAA Writing Contest.
Max Adler won first place in the Enterprise division for his piece “Masters treasures went missing, then the FBI showed up” about the break-up of a theft ring targeting Augusta National memorabilia. A judge remarked: “A very good example of investigative journalism, uncovering a hidden story while providing a glimpse into the inner sanctum of Augusta National.”
Jerry Tarde, the longtime editor at Golf Digest, was awarded the top prize in the Commentary section for “The real score is Jack 20, Tiger 18” about how the two golf icons’ top amateur titles should be included in their major-championship totals.
Golf Digest totaled six top-three prizes overall, with Joel Beall earning a runner-up and two-third places.
In the News/Game Story category, Gary D’Amato won first place for “At long last, McIlroy caps grand career with Masters title” after Rory McIlroy slipped into the green jacket at Augusta National to complete the career Grand Slam.
In the Long Profile division, Alan Shipnuck claimed the top prize for SkratchGolf.com with “The shadows that follow Angel Cabrera” about the comeback and checkered history of the two-time major champion and domestic-violence convict. With the first-place award, Shipnuck adds to his record number of GWAA top prizes, now 14.
The GWAA Writing Contest winners will be recognized at the 52nd annual ISPS Handa GWAA Awards Dinner on Wednesday, April 8, at Augusta Country Club on the eve of the 90th Masters Tournament. Other honorees will include players of the year Scottie Scheffler (men), Jeeno Thitikul (women) and Stewart Cink (senior), plus Brandt Snedeker (Charlie Bartlett Award), Mark Rolfing (William D. Richardson Award), Bud Cauley(Ben Hogan Award) and Stacy Lewis (Jim Murray Award).
The PGA of America also will recognize Jeff Babineau posthumously with the association’s Lifetime Achievement in Journalism Award and Matthew Harris with the Lifetime Achievement in Photojournalism.
GWAA members submitted a total of 328 entries in the seven categories: commentary (63), short feature (60), short profile (55), news / game story (52), long profile (45), long feature (39) and enterprise (14).
The complete list of winners:
ENTERPRISE
1. Max Adler, Golf Digest: “Masters treasures went missing, then FBI showed up,” March 19
2. Adam Schupak, Golfweek: “Past legends left out of Tour equity,” July 1
3. Joel Beall, Tod Leonard, Drew Powell, Mike Stachura, Golf Digest: “The best little golf towns in America,” Sept. 1
HONORABLE MENTION: Jeff Shain, The Villages Daily Sun: “The Villages 40-year odyssey,” Nov. 2; John Hopkins, Lewine Mair, Ron Green Jr., Everett Munez, Mike Cullity, Scott Michaux, John Steinbreder, Global Golf Post: “Tiger 5.0,” Dec. 8
NEWS/GAME STORY
1. Gary D’Amato, Wisconsin.golf: “At long last, McIlroy caps grand career with Masters title,” April 14
2. Joel Beall, GolfDigest.com: “McIlroy, finally, is a Masters champ now and forever,” April 14
3. Brentley Romine, GolfChannel.com: “Luckiest man alive? It’s irrevocably J.J. Spaun,” June 15
HONORABLE MENTION: Alan Shipnuck, SkratchGolf.com: “J.J. Spaun, 64 feet and men in the sky,” June 16; Josh Berhow, Golf.com: “In hours after US Open, Spaun’s best moment was unscripted,” June 16
LONG PROFILE
1. Alan Shipnuck, SkratchGolf.com: “The shadows that follow Angel Cabrera,” June 10
2. Josh Berhow, Golf.com: “Rachel Heck didn’t need pro golf. She wanted something more,” March 31
3. Joel Beall, GolfDigest.com: “The Incredible story of Ryan Peake,” July 7
HONORABLE MENTION: Gabby Herzig, The Athletic: “Charley Hull’s Instagram tells a story,” Dec. 11; John Steinbreder, GlobalGolfPost.com: “Resolute voice,” Aug. 3; Adam Schupak, Golfweek.com: “Unbreakable bond: How Scottie Scheffler’s life changed from Ragan’s cancer fight,” April 6
SHORT PROFILE
1. Michael Bamberger, Golf.com: “RIP, Fuzzy, a man in full,” Nov. 28
2. Sean Zak, Golf.com: “She won 5 majors, then switched from righty to lefty,” May 28
3. Jeff Shain, The Villages Daily Sun: “Saunders comes full circle at Bay Hill,” March 9
HONORABLE MENTION: Ryan Lavner, GolfChannel.com: “Scottie Scheffler reminds golf world who’s No. 1,” May 19
SHORT FEATURE
1. Nick Piastowski, Golf.com: “A golf course marshal was dying. Then he felt his best friend’s paw,” Nov. 12
2. Dave Shedloski, GolfDigest.com: “Europe’s Captain Everything reaches legend status,” Sept. 28
3. Gary Van Sickle, TheFirstCall.com: “Why Fezler really wore shorts at the U.S. Open,” June 9
HONORABLE MENTION: Joel Beall, GolfDigest.com: “A stupid game of chicken: Inside the Tour/Saudi negotiation breakdown,” March 6; Lisa Mickey GlobalGolfPost.com: “Clinging to what remains,” Jan. 5; Gary Van Sickle, The-Golf-Show.com: “Getting up to Speed,” Oct. 25
LONG FEATURE
1. Michael Bamberger, Golf.com: “9/11 in New York City from Long Island club,” Sept. 11
2. Oliver Horovitz, Golf.com: “Bhutan might be world’s most pleasant golf destination,” Dec. 18
3. Michael Bamberger, Golf.com: “Tiger 2000 was best run ever,” May 24
HONORABLE MENTION: Tom Coyne, The Golfer’s Journal: “Perchance to dream,” June; Sean Zak,Golf.com: “What I learned playing 36 U.S. Open holes in 36 hours,” June 6
COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS
1. Jerry Tarde, GolfDigest.com: “The real score is Jack 20, Tiger 18,” Jan. 28
2. Gary Van Sickle, Memorial Tournament Magazine, “Let us pray,” June
T-3. Ron Green Jr., Global Golf Post: “Mickelson’s U.S. Open exit deserves its due,” June 12
T-3. Michael Bamberger, Golf.com: “Where Spaun really won the U.S. Open,” June 15
HONORABLE MENTION: Ron Green Jr., Global Golf Post: “McIlroy’s perseverance reaps grand reward,” April 14
ABOUT THE GWAA
The Golf Writers Association of America, founded in 1946, is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit members organization and the only American organization dedicated to the promotion and continued improvement of golf journalism. The GWAA includes members across all disciplines and career levels and is dedicated to helping members advance careers, build connections and celebrate our ever-changing industry.
For more information, contact GWAA secretary Steve Harmon at secretary@gwaa.com or 407-920-1194.