Jaime Diaz, the award-winning senior writer for Golf Digest and Golf World, has been named editor-in-chief of Golf World magazine.

The announcement was made Monday in a release by Jerry Tarde, editorial director and chairman of the Golf Digest Companies. The change will be effective March 23.

Diaz and his wife, Stephanie, live in Carthage.

“Jaime is the most respected golf writer of our generation, so it’s fitting that he will lead golf’s premier news magazine at this critical time when the game is exploding internationally and technologically,” said Tarde.

“It is an honor to be named the editor of Golf World,” Diaz said in the release. “I’m tremendously excited by the opportunity to help enlighten and entertain a readership that loves the game and the best journalism in golf.”

Diaz will be honored next month by the PGA of America with its Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism. A veteran reporter having covered more than 100 major championships, Diaz is a winner of six first-place awards from the Golf Writers Association of America.

He has authored or co-authored five books, most recently collaborating with Hank Haney on “The Big Miss,” a book about Haney’s relationship with Tiger Woods.

Last week, an excerpt of “The Big Miss” in Golf Digest received tremendous reaction in the press preceding its release date of March 27, 2012.

Diaz replaces Geoff Russell, who is joining the Golf Channel in a newly created position of senior vice president and executive editor.

“Geoff’s editorship has been relentlessly outstanding over the last 11 years,” said Tarde. “The good news is that Golf Digest, Golf World and the Golf Channel have deepened their already strong partnership that will only grow and benefit golfers everywhere.”

It was announced earlier that Diaz will be presented the PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism at the 40th annual Golf Writers Association of America annual spring dinner and awards ceremony Aug. 4 prior to the start of the Masters Tournament.

Golf Digest Companies is part of Condé Nast and includes Golf Digest, Golf World, Golf World Monday and GolfDigest.com. Last month Golf World earned three of the top four awards in the magazine division of the Golf Writers Association of America.