You know how sometimes a great sports writer can make you feel like you’re right there with the athletes? That’s the magic these wordsmiths create—turning distant sports figures into people we feel we actually know. And man, do we feel it when one of those voices goes silent?

Golf legend Tom Watson hit us right in the feels yesterday with his tribute to a fallen giant of sports journalism. “One of our sports world’s finest writers, John Feinstein, sadly left us today,” Watson shared on X, clearly shaken by the news. Watson wasn’t just paying lip service either; he genuinely appreciated how Feinstein could “describe the inner workings and complexities of the players, teams, and coaches” in a way that brought them to life. The golf icon’s closing words, “Always an enjoyable read,” perfectly captured why Feinstein’s writing resonated with so many fans over the decades.

The tragic news spread fast. Feinstein passed away suddenly on March 13, 2025, at just 69 years old, at his brother’s home in Virginia. The PGA Tour wasted no time in releasing a heartfelt statement expressing “its deepest condolences to the family and friends of John Feinstein.” You could feel the golf world collectively catching its breath.

Even fellow writer Alan Shipnuck took to Twitter to express his grief. “Sad day. For three decades, I enjoyed hearing J. Feinstein hold court in assorted press rooms,” Shipnuck wrote in response to Watson’s post. “He was a character and a throwback. I admired his prolificacy, especially his big brass ones.” It’s pretty clear that Feinstein wasn’t just respected—he was loved.

But to truly understand why Watson and so many others are grieving, we need to examine Feinstein’s incredible mark on golf writing.

John Feinstein’s remarkable legacy in golf literature

Let’s be real—Feinstein was a monster of talent in golf writing. His 1995 classic “A Good Walk Spoiled” wasn’t just another book—it absolutely dominated the New York Times bestseller list. The guy somehow convinced PGA Tour players like Greg Norman, Nick Price, and Watson himself to let him into their world, giving fans unprecedented access to the tour life.

And talk about prolific! The legend cranked out 48 books (an incredible body of work), with around 23 of them landing on the bestseller list. Remember “Caddy For Life”? That gut-wrenching story about Watson’s longtime caddy Bruce Edwards battling ALS? Pure Feinstein: finding the deeply human stories behind the sport.

Beyond the books, you couldn’t miss his voice on the Golf Channel or his pieces in Golf Digest. Feinstein spent five decades covering golf, asking the tough questions when others wouldn’t. That’s probably why the players opened up to him—they knew he’d tell their stories honestly.

What really gets one about the suddenness of all this is that just hours before he died, Feinstein had sent in a column about basketball coach Tom Izzo to The Washington Post. He was still grinding away at his craft until his final hour. He leaves behind his wife, Christine, three kids, and siblings who are surely devastated.

The golf writing world just won’t be the same without him. As Watson put it so perfectly, “He was always an enjoyable read, and we will sorely miss him.” For those of us who grew up devouring his books, Feinstein’s words will always be our special connection to golf’s greatest stories. So what about you? Do you have a favorite Feinstein book? Drop it in the comments below!