Great British Golfers – TalkGolf Great British Golfers Nick Faldo One of the most successful British golfers in history, Nick Faldo has won three Open Championships and three US Masters titles, and has been ranked No.1 on the official World Golf Rankings for an outstanding total of ninety eight weeks. After being inspired by watching Jack Nicklaus play golf in the early seventies Faldo had his first introduction to the game, quickly achieving success in 1975 by winning both the English Amateur Championship and the British Youths Championship. In 1976, Faldo became a professional golfer, making his mark by finishing in eighth place on his first European tour and in 1977 he became the youngest player ever to play as part of the Ryder Cup team. During the eighties, Faldo took some time out of competition to improve his swing under the instruction of golfer turned tutor David Leadbetter. Following the changes made to his game, Faldo returned to competitive golf and won his first major championship title in the 1987 Open Championship.

Since then, in addition to his championship success, Faldo has won a series of high profile competitions and tour events including the French Open, Irish Open, Spanish Open, the PGA, the British Masters and the European Open. He has also had several team successes including the Alfred Dunhill Cup, the World Cup and the Ryder Cup. Colin Montgomerie Affectionately known as ‘Monty,’ Colin Montgomerie is a legendary Scottish golfer and is widely recognised as the leading golfer to have emerged in European competition over the last fifteen years. Montgomerie was a successful amateur golfer, winning the Scottish Youths Championship in 1983, before turning professional in 1988 and winning the Rookie of the Year title on the European Tour that same year. He won his first professional title in 1989, when he won the Portugese Open and since then, he has won more European titles than any other British Golfer.

During the nineties, Montgomerie went on to win numerous tournaments on the European Tour including the Scandinavian Masters in 1991, the Volvo German Open in 1995, the Murphy’s Irish Open in 1996 and 1997 and the Volvo PGA Championship in 1998. Between 1993 and 1999 Montgomerie won a record breaking seven ‘Order of Merit Titles’ on the tour and twenty high profile tournaments during that time, winning five titles in 1999 alone, being known as the most consistent golfer in the world during his most successful period. Since his seven year European winning streak, Montgomerie has continued to prove himself, most notably in the year 2000 when he made the record books again by winning the Volvo PGA Championship for the third time. In 2001 he won the Australian Masters and in 2002 he won his first Asian title in the TCL classic in China. Montgomerie has taken part in eight Ryder Cups during his career, as well as other team tournaments, including the Dunhill Cup, the World Cup and the UBS Cup.

Whilst never having won a major championship title, despite coming a close second at both the US Open and the US PGA, Montgomerie is regarded as one of the finest sportsmen in Britain, officially marked in 2004 when he was awarded an OBE for sporting achievement. Lee Westwood Regarded as one of England and Europe’s finest golfers, Lee Westwood began playing golf at the age of thirteen before winning his first amateur tournament, the Pete McEvoy Trophy aged seventeen. After winning the British Youth Championship in 1993, Westwood turned professional, winning his first professional competition four years later at the Volvo Scandinavian Masters. Whilst Westwood has not won any major championships, he did attain fourth place in the official World Golf Rankings when he came forth in the 2000 British open. He has also won several high profile competitions, including the Freeport McDermott Classic in 1998, the Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters in 1996 and for the following two years, and the Cisco World Match Play Championship in 2000.

Westwood has performed particularly well in European Tour events, having won a total of 18 tournaments, and in 2000 he achieved the European Tour Order of Merit, ending Colin Montgomerie’s seven year run of victory. Sandy Lyle One of the most significant British golfers during the eighties, Sandy Lyle was born in Shrewsbury as Alexander Walter Barr Lyle, but living in Scotland, chose to represent Scotland during his professional career. Lyle was introduced to the game when he was just three years old and went on to win several amateur competitions in Scotland and England before turning professional in 1977. During his career, Lyle has had twenty seven professional wins, including seventeen on the European Tour, six on the PGA tour and two major championships. Lyle rose to international victory in 1985 when he won the Open Championship but he is best known for winning the Masters, becoming the first British golfer to win the championship.

After winning high profile events on the European Tour, Lyle won the European Tour’s Order of Merit in 1979, 1980 and 1985, and in 1985 he was also part of a victorious team in the Ryder Cup. Unusually for golfers, Lyle’s victorious streak was relatively short-lived, and in 1989 he began to move away from regular competition but he is well-known for being an inspirational player with a cool temperament and a natural talent for the game. Darren Clarke A professional golfer from Northern Ireland, Darren Clarke has won several tournaments on the European Tour in the last decade, including the Linde German Masters, the Benson & Hedges International Open, the Smurfit European Open and the Compass Group English Open. He has achieved second place on the European Tour Money list three times and has been listed in the top ten in the official World Golf Rankings. Turning professional in 1990, Clarke has won seventeen professional titles since embarking on his golfing career and has represented Northern Ireland in the Ryder Cup, the World Cup and the Alfred Dunhill cup.

Although Clarke has never won a major championship title he came very close to victory in 1997 when he achieved second place at the British Open. Clarke made one of his biggest achievements in 2003 when he won the high profile WGC-NEC Invitational although he is perhaps best known for his defeat of Tiger Woods in the final of the WGC-Anderson Consulting Match Play Championship in 2000. Ian Woosnam Despite being born in Oswestry, England, Ian Woosnam was born to Welsh parents and has represented Wales during his professional career. Woosnam began playing golf in his local club in Powys and turned professional in the 1970’s despite doubt from fellow club members that he was good enough to ‘make it.’ Woosnam’s professional career was slow to begin but in 1982 he won the Swiss Open on the European Tour, his first high profile tournament. He topped the European Tour money list in 1987 after winning eight tournaments and his victories continued to increase. Woosnam won the British PGA championship in 1988, and in 1991 he entered the official No.1 spot in the World Golf Rankings.

Later that year, Woosnam went on to win his first major championship when he earned the US Masters title, a victory that few British golfers have ever achieved. Woosnam has also represented Wales more than fifteen times in the World Cup and in 2006 he was chosen to captain the European Team in the Ryder Cup. Sir Henry Cotton Born in 1907, Henry Cotton is regarded as one of the most legendary golfers in British history. After leaving his public school at seventeen, Cotton embarked upon a professional career and practised so hard it is rumoured that his hands bled on more than one occasion. During the 1930’s Cotton had a series of European Victories, before winning his first major title in 1934 at the British Open. Cotton went on to win the Open twice more, once in 1937 and once in 1948, remaining the only Brit to win the tournament until 1989. Between 1947 and 1953 Cotton was the captain of the Ryder Cup team before his retirement in the mid fifties.

Whilst being remembered for his numerous successes, Cotton is also famed for his flamboyant lifestyle and during his career he spent a large amount of time campaigning for better treatment of professional golfers, once remarking that ‘the best is always good enough for me.’ During the Second World War, Cotton joined the Royal Air Force organising a series of exhibition matches in aid of the Red Cross and earning him an MBE at the end of the War. In 1980 Cotton was inducted into the World Hall of Fame and, before his death in 1987, he accepted a knighthood which was awarded posthumously to him in the 1988 New Year’s Day Honours. Harry Vardon Born in 1870, Harry Vardon grew up on Jersey and began to play golf in his teens, turning professional at the age of 20. Vardon made his mark in 1896 when he won the first Open Championships and went on to win a record breaking five further Opens over the next two decades, a record that stands to this day. In 1900, Vardon toured America as a golfing celebrity, winning eighty matches and finishing with a victory at the US Open.

He won an outstanding sixty two tournaments during his life time, including the high profile British PGA Matchplay Championship and the German Open. Vardon was an influential player during his lifetime and his legacy lived on after his death in 1987. Vardon introduced what is now referred to as the ‘Vardon grip,’ a way of gripping the golf club so that the little finger of the trailing hand (lowest hand on the club) is placed between the index and middle finger of the lead hand (the highest hand on the club) with the thumb of the lead hand fitting in to the lifeline of the trailing hand. He also inspired the ‘Vardon Trophy’ which is awarded each year on the PGA tour to the golfer with the lowest adjusted scoring average. James Braid One of the pioneering players of modern Golf, James Braid was born in 1870 and, after turning professional in 1896, represented Scotland in a number of major championships and high profile tournaments. Braid played golf from an early age but, even when he became professional, he was still struggling with his putting skills.

In 1900 he switched to an aluminium putter, going on to win his first Open Championship in 1901. Braid went on to win four more Open Championships, winning his last in 1910 against fellow Scotsman Sandy Herd. Braid also made his mark by winning four victories at the British PGA Matchplay Championships between 1903 and 1911 and in 1910 he won the French Open title. He would perhaps have won more titles on foreign soil had he not been afraid to travel further than France. After retiring from the game in 1912, Braid was involved with golf design and famously designed the King’s and Queen’s course at Gleaneagles as well as inventing the ‘dogleg,’ a type of hole often used on inland courses. John Henry Taylor Along with Henry Vardon and James Braid, John Henry Taylor was one of the three British golfers to dominate the game during the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Century. Orphaned as a young boy, Taylor worked as a caddy and labourer at Westwood Ho Golf Club after leaving school at eleven, before becoming a professional golfer at the age of nineteen.

Taylor won the Open Championships an outstanding five times between 1894 and 1913, and in 1933 he captained the British Ryder Cup team to victory against the U.S, although he famously didn’t play in any of the matches. Taylor was known for his short, punchy swing which coped well with the winds on the British courses. After his retirement he went on to design a number of golf courses across the country and became the founder and original chairman of the British Professional Golfer’s Association.

The Tour Group — PGA founded with offices in Bishopgate, London 1966 — PGA Offices moved to Oval cricket ground, London 1971 — John Jacobs appointed Tournament Director-General of the PGA (1.10.71).This marked the official birth of The PGA European Tour 1972 — The Tour started with, in addition to John Jacobs, John Bywaters MBE as Secretary of the PGA, George Simms as Press & PR Advisor and, in the field, Arthur Crawley-Bovey as Tournament Director and Eddie Carter as Recorder — Prize money and points from European tournaments included in Order of Merit 1975 — Ken Schofield appointed First Secretary and Executive Director, following John Jacobs (1.01.75) — Tour title: PGA Tournament Players’ Section — Order of Merit based on prize money instead of points 1976 — Tour title: PGA Tournament Players’ Division — Sunday finishes started in selected tournaments — Pre-tournament Pro-Ams introduced — Annual Qualifying School started at three courses in UK with 127 cards to be won 1977 — Tour title: PGA European Tournament Players’ Division — Safari Tour co-sponsored by the PGA ETPD

 — 36-hole cut raised from 50 and ties to 65 and ties — Neil Coles made Chairman of TPD Committee Representatives with Angel Gallardo as Vice-Chairman 1979 — Tour title: PGA European Golf Tour — European players included in Ryder Cup teams — Qualifying School moved to Portugal 1980 — “Order of Merit” changed to “Official Money List” — Minimum number of tournaments to be played for inclusion on Official Money list raised from five to seven 1981 — PGA European Golf Tour offices moved from the Oval to Wentworth in Surrey (16.4.81) — R & A granted exemption into The Open Championship to the top ten (in the top 25), not otherwise exempt, at the State Express Classic 1982 — Tour title: PGA European Tour — Prize money (Reserve Money) paid to those finishing beyond 65th — Introduction of performance statistics — Qualifying School moved to La Manga, Spain — The Tunisian Open at El Kantaoui makes the start of an expansion programme by The European Tour to take the professional game global and further popularise the sport.

1984 — PGA European Tour made a limited Company — Formation of PGA European Tour Enterprises Ltd with George O’Grady as Managing Director — “Official Money List” changed back to “Order of Merit” — Placing in Order of Merit to obtain membership at end of season reduced from 150 to 125 — Pre-Qualifying for entry to Qualifying School started at La Manga 1985 — Introduction of the All-Exempt Tour (tournament pre-qualifying discontinued) — Winter base of PGA European Tour set up at La Manga, Spain 1986 — Introduction of Associate, Temporary and Affiliated Memberships — Formation of PGA European Tour South office in Barcelona — Pre-Qualifying for Qualifying School introduced in two stages — PQ1 in UK and PQ2 in Spain — Minimum number of tournaments to be played for inclusion in the Order of Merit raised from seven to nine — Introduction of the Satellite Tour — Exemption into The Open Championship reduced from the top ten (in the top 25) to the top five (in the top 25), not otherwise exempt, at the Car Care Plan International 1987 — Introduction of the one-ball rule — Agreement announced at PGA

 Championship that Volvo would become first corporate sponsor to commence in — First Senior British Open at Turnberry won by Neil Coles 1988 — Volvo Tour sanctioned by The PGA European Tour started with prize money exceeding £10m — Formation of PGA European Properties and Tour Developments companies — Placing in Order of Merit to retain Membership at end of season reduced from 125 to 120 — Introduction by Volvo of bonuses to be paid to the top 15 in the Volvo Order of Merit providing that they played in the Volvo Masters.

This money was “official” 1989 — PGA European Satellite Tour started with its own Order of Merit with the top five being eligible for full PGA European Tour Membership the following season under Category 11(b).

Best nine results in three different countries to count — Apollo Week Training School first staged 1990 — PGA European Tour and Professional Golfers’ Association announced formation of the Ryder Cup Joint Venture (21.11.90) — PGA European Satellite Tour renamed PGA European Challenge Tour — Challenge Tour Rankings required a minimum of five tournaments to qualify for inclusion — Establishment of the PGA European Tour Andalucian headquarters at San Roque, Spain — Qualifying School moved to Massane Montpellier and La Grande Motte in France — Additional office opened in Chobham, Surrey (November) — Twice yearly re-ranking of those who won cards at the previous autumn’s Qualifying School introduced — First Seniors event staged in Geneva and won by Neil Coles 1991 — Number of cards available under Category 11(b) raised from top five of Challenge Tour Rankings to top ten — Number of cards available at Qualifying School reduced from top 50 to 40 — Formation of PGA European Tour Productions (26.4.91) — a joint venture company with Trans World International 1992 — Exemption period for tournament winners in Category 5 reduced to the rest of the year plus two years (from three years

) — Introduction of new Exemption Category whereby a player finishing in top ten of a tournament will be exempt for the next tournament — Start of the PGA European Seniors Tour with minimum of two events for inclusion in Money List — Formation of European Golf Design (19.2.92) — a joint venture company with International Management Group — Formation of PGA European Tour Courses (IMG) Limited — a joint venture company with International Management Group — First PGA European Tour Course acquired at Collingtree Park (August 1992) — Challenge Tour Rankings — Best 15 results to count with a minimum of six tournaments to be played to qualify for inclusion — PGA European Tour Physiotherapy Unit introduced 1993 — Combined Volvo Tour, Seniors Tour and Challenge Tour events totaled more than 100 with total prize money exceeding £25 million — Three-year television agreement with Sky Sports announced — Minimum number of tournaments to be played for inclusion in the Order of Merit raised from nine to 11 — Ryder Cup Qualifying Points List extended to include points earned over a complete calendar year (September to August) — PGA European Seniors Tour Money List — Minimum number of events to qualify for inclusion raised to three 1994 — 

20th Anniversary of start of BBC Television coverage of Tour events — Valderrama in Spain announced as first Continental host venue for The Ryder Cup (1997) — Challenge Tour Rankings — All cheques to count 1995 — First ten in Ryder Cup Qualifying Points List to be in the team automatically, with the Captain having two choices — Ryder Cup Qualifying Points List to include points earned from winnings in the Masters Tournament, US Open Championship and US PGA Championship — The PGA European Tour and Volvo announced a partnership extension for a further four year period from 1996 to 1999.

Volvo to remain as principal sponsor of the Tour; PGA European Tour to revert to and operate under its own name — Further four year television agreement with Sky Television announced to include 1997 and 1999 Ryder Cups, and exclusive live broadcasts of 26 tournaments each season from 1997 to 2000 — Number of cards available at Qualifying School raised to include top 40 and ties — Combined Volvo Tour, Seniors Tour and Challenge Tour events had total prize money exceeding £30 million — The Golf Channel renews its contract with The European Tour to continue exclusive tournament coverage in the United States, Canada and Japan through 2003 — In Spain Canal+ signs enhanced contract to broadcast extensive coverage of The European Tour — The European Tour, on behalf of The European Ryder Cup Committee, signs a new four year contract with Sky Television to include exclusive, live coverage of the 2001 and 2003 Ryder Cups in addition to a minimum of 33 Tour events annually, and announces that BBC Television has committed to a new contract through 2003 to guarantee strong and increased terrestrial highlight coverage of The Ryder Cup in 2001 and 2003

 1996 — 25th Anniversary of the foundation of The PGA European Tour — Bernard Gallacher awarded OBE in New Year’s Honours — The Top 115 (previously 120) in the 1996 Order of Merit to qualify for Category 11 Membership in 1997 with those in positions 116-150 qualifying for Category 13 Membership — The leading 15 players (previously ten) from the final 1996 European Challenge Tour Rankings to qualify for Category 11(b) Membership in 1997 — PGA European Tour and BBC Television sign a new four year contract which will extend to more than 25 years a partnership that has seen the Tour’s most prestigious events given outstanding coverage — The Brabazon Course at The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, England, announced as host for The Ryder Cup in 2001 — Ken Schofield appointed CBE and Sam Torrance MBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours — The PGA European Tour, The PGA Tour, the PGA Tour of South Africa, The PGA Tour of Australasia and the PGA Tour of Japan announce the formation of the International Federation of

 PGA Tours 1997 — Tournament Committee approves the three United States Majors (Masters Tournament, US Open Championship and US PGA Championship) to count towards minimum number of 11 tournaments for inclusion in Order of Merit.

Money won is not official — Category One Membership of European Tour reformed (effective 1998) to comprise the four Major Championships and winner of the Order of Merit (Exemption period ten years). Category 2 reformed to comprise Volvo PGA Championship, Deutsche Bank-SAP TPC of Europe, Smurfit European Open, Canon European Masters and Volvo Masters. (Exemption period five years) — Prize Money for the 1997 Volvo Masters increased to a record £1,000,000, and Volvo PGA Championship to £1,100,000 — European Seniors Tour announce the introduction of an all-exempt system. — John Jacobs, “father” of The European Tour, awarded the OBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours — Dr James McDaid, T.D. Irish Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, and Ken Schofield announce a unique partnership between the European Tour and Failte Ireland involving a major new joint eight year marketing strategy for Irish golf holidays.

The strategy will culminate in The Ryder Cup taking place in Ireland in 2005 — The PGA European Tour, as a Member of The International Federation of PGA Tours, announce the launch in 1999 of the World Golf Championships– a series of events that will feature the game’s top players competing against each other in a variety of competitive formats on the international stage 1998 — European Challenge Tour celebrates Tenth Anniversary season — Volvo PGA Championship Prize Fund increased to £1,200,000 with landmark first prize of £200,000 — Record European Tour Prize Money of £1,250,000 announced for Smurfit European Open — Colin Montgomerie appointed MBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to golf, prior to collecting a record sixth successive Order of Merit title — Sam Torrance reaches milestone by playing in his 600th European Tour event 1999 — Three World Golf Championships starting this year in addition to the four Major Championships to count towards the 11 tournaments in which a player must compete for Membership of The European Tour — Money won from the World Golf Championships in addition to the US Open Championship and the US

 PGA Championship to be official in the Order of Merit — Official Money won on the 1999 European Tour to be presented in euros with both the Order of Merit and The Ryder Cup Points Table being calculated using the new European currency — The European Tour and Volvo announce an extension to their partnership, first established in 1988, through to and including the 2002 season — The Kildare Hotel and Country Club – The K Club – announced as host venue for The Ryder Cup in 2005 — Bob Charles made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year’s Honours List — Paul Lawrie becomes the first player since 1963, when the qualifying system was introduced, to win The Open Championship after successfully making it through final Qualifying.

In all he played 112 holes at Downfield and Carnoustie to become the first Scot to win on home soil since Tommy Armour in 1931 — The Golf Channel renews its contract with The European Tour to continue exclusive tournament coverage in the United States, Canada and Japan through 2003 — In Spain Canal+ signs enhanced contract to broadcast extensive coverage of The European Tour — The European Tour, on behalf of The European Ryder Cup Committee, signs a new four year contract with Sky Television to include exclusive, live coverage of the 2001 and 2003 Ryder Cups in addition to a minimum of 33Tour events annually, and announces that BBC Television has committed to a new contract through 2003 to guarantee strong and increased terrestrial high light coverage of The Ryder Cup in 2001 and 2003 2000 — Money won from the Masters Tournament to be official in the Order of Merit — 36-hole cut raised from 65 and ties to 70 and ties — World Cup of Golf becomes fourth event in the World Golf Championships — Tommy Horton appointed MBE in the New Year’s Honours — Sir Michael Bonallack, who becomes

 a Non-Executive Director of The European Tour Board of Directors; Neil Coles, who by winning the Microlease Jersey Seniors Open at the age of 65 years and 10 months becomes the first golfer in history to win a professional event in six different decades; and John Jacobs, ‘father’ of The European Tour, elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame — Colin Montgomerie becomes to first player to win the Volvo PGA Championship three years in succession — Paul Lawrie, winner of the 128th Open Championship at Carnoustie in 1999, appointed MBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List — Record prize money of £2,000,000 announced for the Volvo Masters — Lee Westwood becomes only the fourth golfer in European Tour history to capture six titles in one season on the way to finishing Number One in the Order of Merit with a record €3,125,146 (£1,858,602) — Six Partners – IBM, Ireland 2005, KPMG, Lucent Technologies, Pfizer and Regus – announced for The 34th Ryder Cup to be played at The Belfry on

 September 28-30, 2001 2001 — The European Tour celebrates its 30th anniversary with confirmed record money of €97,143,310 (£60,399,735) — Björn Nordberg joins The European Tour as a Non-Executive Director — Volvo PGA Championship prize money increased to a record £2 million — Ireland’s Des Smyth wins the Madeira Island Open to become the oldest winner on The European Tour at 48 years and 34 days, surpassing the 48 years and 14 days of Neil Coles — Tiger Woods, the World Number One, makes history by winning the Masters Tournament to become the first player to hold all Major Championships simultaneously — Bernhard Langer of Germany elected to World Golf Hall of Fame — The Scottish Open returns to The European Tour International Schedule after an absence of five years, with a record prize fund of £2.2 million — The Board of The European Tour announces the findings of an Independent Audit to Members — New Zealand’s Michael Campbell made an Officer of New Zealand Order of Merit Award for services to golf in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List — John Jacobs, the founding father

 of The European Tour, inducted into the World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame — Eamonn Darcy plays 600th European Tour event at Trophée Lancôme.

Roger Chapman and Malcolm Mackenzie make their 500th appearances in 2001 — The 34th Ryder Cup at The Belfry postponed until September 2002 in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. Future Ryder Cups switched to even years — Host venues announced for 2010 and 2014 Ryder Cups with The Celtic Manor Resort staging the 2010 edition and The Gleneagles Hotel hosting the event in 2014. A rotation system throughout the Continent announced for 2018 to 2030 2002 — Max Faulkner awarded the OBE in The Queen’s New Year’s Honours List, half a century after his victory in The Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

Faulkner later received the award from The Prince of Wales at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace — John Jacobs OBE, founding father of The European Tour, accorded Life Membership of the Professional Golfers Association, only the eighth person to receive that honour — Mark Mouland of Wales and Scotland’s Gordon Brand Jnr receive awards from The European Tour for reaching the landmark of 500 tournaments at the Novotel Perrier Open de France and Volvo PGA Championship respectively — The Golf Channel reach agreement with The European Tour to show European Tour events in the United States, Canada and Japan through 2007 — The European Tour Sport Relief Challenge raises a grand total of £35,692 for charity — Neil Coles, Chairman of The European Tour Board of Directors, extends his own record as the oldest winner on the European Seniors Tour, winning the Lawrence Batley Seniors Open at the age of 67 years and 276 days.

Sadly, Lawrence Batley dies, aged 91, in August — The European Tour Physiotherapy Unit, which had travelled to more than 300 tournaments throughout Europe, celebrates its tenth anniversary during the BMW International Open in Munich — Tony Jacklin and Bernhard Langer inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in Florida 2003 — Sam Torrance, Europe’s winning Captain in The 34th Ryder Cup, awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List, seven years after receiving an MBE. European Team win Golf Writers’ Trophy for 2002. — Ken Schofield, Executive Director of The European Tour, awarded the PGA of Europe’s Christer Lindberg Bowl for his contribution to golf.

Sir Michael Bonallack succeeds Jaime Ortiz Patiño as President of the PGA of Europe — The Senior British Open, presented by MasterCard, accorded “Major” status, 16 years after the event was founded by The European Tour and IMG — The Golf Channel Presenter, Renton Laidlaw, named as the 2003 recipient of the PGA of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism — Sky Sports secures exclusive live rights to The Ryder Cup, two Major Championships and a minimum of 34 tournaments on The European Tour International Schedule in a series of new long-term agreements — The R&A announce that they will introduce International Final Qualifying for The 2004 Open Championship at Royal Troon — The European qualification process for The 35th Ryder Cup changed to reflect the growing influence of the Official World Golf Ranking.

The change will see five players qualify through accumulating World Ranking points over a 12 month period with five further places via the traditional Ryder Cup points list based on the Order of Merit — Mark McCormack, founder, Chairman and CEO of IMG and the man universally recognised as the inventor of sports marketing, died in a New York hospital in May, having been in a coma since January when he suffered cardiac arrest — Peter Alliss, a leading professional and Ryder Cup player before becoming one of the most respected commentators on television with the BBC, is accorded Honorary Life Membership of The European Tour — BBC Sport and The European Tour sign a new five-year agreement, ensuring that BBC golf coverage will continue across BBC1, BBC Radio Five Live and BBCi until 2008 — John Jacobs OBE, the founding father of The European Tour, is honoured by the Association of Golf Writers with the Michael Williams Outstanding Services Award — Pádraig O’hUiginn, who for 11 years between 1982 and 1993 was Secretary of the Department of the Taoiseach, becomes a Life Vice President of the Tour in recognition of his pivotal role in cultivating professional golf in Ireland.

— Ulf Lauren, former Chief Executive of PLM and Chairman of the Swedish Golf Federation and Scandinavian Masters, becomes a Life Vice President of the Tour in recognition of his contribution to tournament Golf in Sweden — Scotland’s Bernard Gallacher, who played in eight Ryder Cups between 1969 and 1983 and Captained Europe on three occasions, in 1991, 1993 and1995, accorded Honorary Life Membership of The European Tour — Ken Schofield CBE, Executive Director of The European Tour since 1975, to step aside at end of 2004. George O'Grady, his deputy since 1989, announced as his successor 2004 — The Red Bull Physiotherapy Unit is launched on The European Tour during he 61st Telecom Italia Open in Milan after a substantial re-fit — John Jacobs, the Founding Father of The European Tour and leading television commentator, Peter Alliss, accept invitations to become Honorary Members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

— A new administration and structure confirmed for The Ryder Cup to include the introduction of the PGAs of Europe and with The European Tour becoming Managing Partner and the PGA Founding Partner — The 50th edition of the PGA Championship, and by coincidence the 1000th event on The European Tour, was held at Wentworth Club, with Scotland’s Scott Drummond lifting the title — The European Tour and Volvo announce a new global strategy for Volvo, which sees the company’s title sponsorship of the PGA Championship and the Order of Merit come to an end, but the Volvo Masters and the Volvo China Open contracted until the end of 2007, taking Volvo’s participation to a minimum of 20 years — The HSBC World Match Play Championship becomes an officially sanctioned tournament on The European Tour International Schedule with results counting towards The European Tour Order of Merit and the Official World Golf Ranking — Ken Schofield CBE, outgoing Executive Director of The European Tour, receives the Association of Golf Writers Award for Outstanding Services to Golf — To coincide with their 70th and 80th birthdays respectively, England’s Neil Coles, Chairman of The PGA European Tour, and Christy O’Connor of Ireland accorded Honorary Life Membership along with

 John Panton of Scotland in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the game 2005 — George O’Grady succeeds Ken Schofield, CBE, as Chief Executive of The European Tour (01.01.05) — BMW and The European Tour announce a new partnership to develop the BMW Championship – the PGA Championship – at Wentworth Club from 2005 to 2008.

Additionally, BMW become Official Car to The European Tour — The European Tour, as Managing Partner of Ryder Cup Europe LLP, confirms the composition of The Ryder Cup Policy Board as part of the new administration put in place ahead of The 36th Ryder Cup at The K Club — Welshman Brian Huggett honoured for his Contribution to Golf by the Professional Golfers’ Association in Cardiff — The European Tour supports the Tsunami Aid Appeal with a $100,000 donation to Indonesia during the Enjoy Jakarta Standard Chartered Indonesia Open in Jakarta — Aberdeen Asset Management announce a three year deal to sponsor the Senior British Open Championship, which paid its first visit to Royal Aberdeen Golf Club — The European Seniors Tour announces that Bahrain will become the latest new venue on the schedule, staging the 2005 Arcapita Seniors Tour Championship — The 1000th edition of the Official World Golf Ranking was published on Monday, May 30, following the completion of the BMW Championship and other events around the world.

Tiger Woods was ranked Number One that week while Bernhard Langer was the first to achieve that official position — The first US Open Qualifier held in the UK at Walton Heath sees Michael Campbell qualify for the Championship at Pinehurst No. 2. He goes on to win his first Major Championship — New Zealand’s Michael Campbell accorded Honorary Life Membership of The European Tour to mark his accomplishment of winning the US Open Championship at Pinehurst No.

2 — The 36-hole cut on The European Tour to revert to 65 and ties for the 2006 season following five years at 70 and ties 2006 — Bernhard Langer, Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup Captain at Oakland Hills, awarded an Honorary OBE from The Queen for his services to golf — Mark McCormack, founder of IMG, inducted posthumously into the World Golf Hall of Fame at St Augustine in Florida — Frenchman Adrien Mörk carded the first official score of 59 in the history of The European, Challenge and Seniors Tours during the second round of the 2006 Tikida Hotels Agadir Moroccan Classic on the Challenge Tour — Ian Woosnam, Europe’s Ryder Cup Captain in 2006, reaches the milestone of 500 events on The European Tour International Schedule at the BMW Championship at Wentworth Club — Carl Mason of England became only the third golfer to go through the €1m barrier in European Seniors Tour earnings after Tommy Horton and Noel Ratcliffe.

Mason achieved the feat at the 2006 FIRSTPLUS Wales Seniors Open in June — Muirfield in Scotland is announced as the venue for The 2007 Senior British Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management, from July 26-29, 2007.

It will be the first time Muirfield has featured on the European Seniors Tour — Sam Torrance becomes the first player in European Tour history to notch up 700 tournaments when he tees up in The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond — Challenge Tour receives direct support from The Ryder Cup, with tournaments in Ireland (Ryder Cup hosts in 2006), Wales (Ryder Cup hosts in 2010) and Scotland (Ryder Cup hosts in 2014) primarily funded by Ryder Cup Europe — The Open de France ALSTOM celebrates its 100th anniversary at Le Golf National in Paris — Junior Golf Ireland receives a cheque for €50,000 from The Ryder Cup European Development Trust — The English quartet of Maurice Bembridge, David Creamer, Malcolm Gregson and Jim Rhodes all reach 200 events on the European Seniors Tour.

The only other player to have reached this milestone is Tommy Horton, also of England — Ken Schofield CBE, former Executive Director of The European Tour, succeeds Sir Michael Bonallack as President of the Golf Foundation — England’s Malcolm Mackenzie becomes the fourth player to reach 600 tournaments on The European Tour at the BMW International Open in Munich following Sam Torrance, Roger Chapman and Eamonn Darcy — Seve Ballesteros honoured by The European Tour to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his first Tour victory in the 1976 Dutch Open — Ireland’s Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and representatives of Ryder Cup Europe LLP handed over 20 minibuses purchased from a series of initiatives involving The Ryder Cup, which raised €800,000 for the Links Golfing Society.

Sales of the Official Ryder Cup programme raised a further €61,756 for the Society and the Darren Clarke Foundation — Paul Casey completes a remarkable double by following his success as winner of the RBS Shot of the Year by being named The European Tour Golfer of the Year for 2006 2007 — The amount of money injected into the Irish economy by The 2006 Ryder Cup in Ireland reached a record €143 million, according to a report by Deloitte & Touche, jointly commissioned by Ryder Cup Europe and Fáilte Ireland (The Irish Tourism Development Authority) — Five time Major Champion Seve Ballesteros announced his retirement from golf at the age of 50 during an emotional press conference, prior to The Open Championship at Carnoustie, where Padraig Harrington ended eight years without a European Major winner — The European Tour and Leisurecorp, the company developing Dubai’s leading residential golf community at Jumeirah Golf Estates, announced an initial five-year partnership to create the Dubai World Championship, the world’s richest golf tournament with a US$10,000,000 prize fund and a US$10,000,000 Bonus

 Pool 2008 - The European Challenge Tour, which was launched in 1989, celebrated its 20th anniversary - Barry Lane became only the fifth player to clock up 600 tournament appearances in the Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy - The European Tour regained the ownership and control of The PGA European Tour Courses after reaching an agreement with businessman Denis O’Brien which saw the Tour take control of the existing network of licensed international venues - The Ryder Cup Development Trust, set up in 2004, announced that in excess of €2.2 million had been raised to assist grassroots projects across the Continent of Europe - Leisurecorp, the company developing Dubai’s leading residential golf community at Jumeirah Golf Estates, unveiled the improved and re-branded European Tour Physiotherapy Unit at a ceremony in Spain - The new Twenty Ten course and clubhouse – the only golf course in history to be purpose built for The Ryder Cup – was officially opened on the eve of the Celtic Manor Wales Open - Two long-standing events on The European Tour celebrated special anniversaries, with the UBS Hong Kong Open being played for the 50th time and the BMW International Open for the 20th occasion - The R&A announced an

 increase in the number of places at The 2009 Open Championship from 20 to 30 for both The 2008 European Tour Order of Merit and US PGA Tour Money List - The Omega European Masters to be co-sanctioned for the first time in 2009 following an historic agreement between The European Tour and the Asian Tour - The eagerly-awaited Race to Dubai, covering 52 tournaments over a 12-month season, was launched during the HSBC Champions in Shanghai with the climax taking place at Jumeirah Golf Estates in November 2009 2009 - Colin Montgomerie announced as European Captain for The 2010 Ryder Cup.

Montgomerie also made it 500 appearances as a professional on The European Tour when he played in the Open de Andalucia de Golf 09 - Nick Faldo knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Only the second golfer to be knighted after Sir Henry Cotton - Christy O’Connor and José Maria Olazábal inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame - HSBC Champions elevated to World Golf Championships event for the first time - Golf wins bid to be part of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro at the International Olympic Committee’s 121st Session in Copenhagen - The six bidding nations for 2018 Ryder Cup are confirmed as France, Germany, Holland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden - Emma Villacieros made Honorary Life Vice President of The European Tour - The West Course at Wentworth Club closes immediately after the BMW PGA Championship for extensive renovations and the redesign of several holes, including the signature 18th which will have an elevated green behind a new water hazard - Seve Ballesteros presented with Lifetime Achievement Award at BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony, and is also made R&A Honorary Member 2010 - Europe won The Ryder Cup 14½-13½ at The Celtic Manor Resort under the leadership of Colin Montgomerie, who was subsequently named BBC Sports Personality Coach of the Year.

The Team also won BBC Sports Personality Team of the Year - European Tour members claimed three of the four Majors, with Graeme McDowell clinching the US Open, Louis Oosthuizen triumphing at The Open Championship and Martin Kaymer winning the US PGA Championship. The three received Honorary Life Membership of The European Tour - Kaymer won The Race to Dubai after four victories - the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, the US PGA, the KLM Open and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship - and record season earnings - Kaymer and McDowell were named joint winners of The European Tour Golfer of the Year award - At the Laureus World Sports Awards, Kaymer won the World Breakthrough of the Year award, and the European Ryder Cup team were nominated for World Sports Team of the Year, but lost out to the World Cup-winning Spain national football team - Golf was announced as an Olympic sport, to be included from the 2016 Games - Italian teenager Matteo Manassero became the youngest player ever to make the cut at the Masters, and in finishing tied 36th produced the best performance by a European amateur for 73 years.

He would later win the Castello Masters Costa Azahar and be named the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year - Graeme McDowell's tricky putt on the 16th green during his singles match against Hunter Mahan on the final day of The Ryder Cup, which contributed to him claiming the winning point for Europe, won The European Tour Shot of the Year award - Lee Westwood became World Number One on October 31, ending Tiger Woods' 281-week reign - George O'Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, was appointed a CBE for services to sport - Claude-Roger Cartier, Jaime Ortiz-Patino and Johann Rupert were named Honorary Life Vice Presidents of The European Tour - It was announced the World Cup would become a biennial event, with the next edition taking place in 2011 2011 - European Tour members were victorious in the first three Majors of the year, with South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel taking The Masters title, Rory McIlroy storming to US Open glory and Darren Clarke picking up the Claret Jug at The Open Championship.

These three titles also made it six Majors in a row for European Tour members dating back to Graeme McDowell’s terrific US Open victory in June 2010. - Luke Donald took the golfing world by storm in 2011 picking up three titles on The European Tour en route to Race to Dubai glory, which when teamed with his Money List success on the PGA Tour, made him the first golfer in history to be number one in both Europe and America. - Thanks to his feats in 2011 Donald also received much acclaim from those in and around the game, and was named The European Tour Golfer of the Year. He also received Player of the Year honours on the PGA Tour as well as accolades from the PGA of America and the Golf Writers of both Europe and the US. - The Englishman also won The European Tour’s flagship event, the BMW Championship, after a playoff victory over compatriot Lee Westwood, and in doing so, he usurped the Englishman as World Number One. - Donald would remain there for the next 31 weeks and head into 2012 atop the ranking, but it was Lee Westwood that had started the season at number one.

He would eventually lose that spot to Germany’s Martin Kaymer towards the end of February having been there for 17 weeks, with the German remaining there for a further nine, before Westwood returned for another five week stint at the top of the game. - European Tour members were also in receipt of further accolades, with Darren Clarke picking up the ‘Comeback of the Year’ at the Laureus World Sports Awards, and Rory McIlroy receiving the ‘Breakthrough of the Year’ trophy. The pair were also honoured in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List with Clarke being given an OBE and McIlroy an MBE. - Another honour that the Northern Irishmen received was Honorary Membership to The European Tour thanks to their Major triumphs, and they were joined in the class of 2011 by fellow Major winner Charl Schwartzel and England’s Lee Westwood. - Finally, Rory McIlroy took The European Tour Shot of the Year award thanks to his stunning 6-iron approach to the daunting par 3 tenth hole at Congressional CC in the final round en route to US Open glory.

He did in fact have three shots in the running for the title, but it was this that came out most popular amongst fans of europeantour.com. 2012 - The European Tour celebrated its 40th anniversary, marked appropriately at the centenary festivities at the Open de España, which was the first tournament to be played when the Tour was born in April 1972, won by Antonio Garrido. - Europe won The Ryder Cup 14½ - 13½ at Medinah Country Club, Illinois, under the stewardship of Captain José María Olazábal, who inspired his charges to the greatest final day comeback on away soil in the history of the biennial contest. - Two out of the four Major Championships were claimed by European Tour Members as Ernie Els won his second Open Championship – ten years after his first – at Royal Lytham & St Annes, while Rory McIlroy again lapped the field in capturing his second Major by eight shots at the US PGA Championship at Kiawah Island.

- Just as Luke Donald had historically achieved a year previously, McIlroy finished 2012 as World Number One, European Number One and US PGA Tour Number One thanks to five victories worldwide – including a stylish finale as the Northern Irishman rubber-stamped his annus mirabilis with success at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai to win The Race to Dubai. - In tribute to his achievements, McIlroy received numerous accolades including The European Tour Golfer of the Year. He also received Player of the Year honours on the PGA Tour as well as awards from the PGA of America and the Golf Writers of both Europe and the US. - Luke Donald made a successful defence of his BMW PGA Championship title, becoming just the third player to win The European Tour’s flagship event in back-to-back years following Sir Nick Faldo (1980-1981) and Colin Montgomerie (1998-2000).

- After reclaiming his European Tour card at the Qualifying School in December 2011, South Africa’s Branden Grace became the first to win four times the year after graduation with triumphs at the Joburg Open, Volvo Golf Champions, Volvo China Open and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. - There were three age-related records set as Matteo Manassero became the first teenager to win three times on The European Tour with victory at the Barclays Singapore Open; Miguel Angel Jimenez’s success at the UBS Hong Kong Open saw the Spaniard become the oldest winner on The European Tour at 48 years and 318 days beating Des Smyth’s 11 year old record; while the Volvo China Open saw home prospect Guan Tian-lang become the youngest player to compete in a European Tour event at the age of 13 years and 177 days. - The Irish Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club became the first European Tour event to be sold out on all four tournament days as 112,280 people flocked through the gates of the County Antrim venue. - European Tour Properties added Germany’s Golf Club St.

Leon-Rot – host venue for The 2015 Solheim Cup – and The Dutch in neighbouring Netherlands, where the KLM Open is set to be staged from 2016 to 2018, to its portfolio, taking the total number of European Tour Destinations to five. - European Tour Chief Executive George O’Grady awarded Honorary Life Membership to Luke Donald after his stunning transatlantic exploits in 2011, while Tommy Horton, Brian Huggett, Mark James and Roger Chapman’s outstanding contributions to European golf were also recognised with Honorary Life Membership. Chapman was afforded the recognition after an historic Senior Major Championship double during a fairytale 2012 season, as the Englishman triumphed at both the US Senior PGA Championship and subsequently the US Senior Open. 2013 - Henrik Stenson was crowned The 2013 Race to Dubai champion following an impressive six-shot win at 2013 Tour climax, the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai. In doing so he became the first player to win both The European and PGA Tours in a single season, having claimed the FedEx Cup earlier in the year.

- A remarkable season for the Swede moved him to second in the Official Golf World Ranking, ahead of fellow European Tour members Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy by three and four places respectively. - An unforgettable three wood to within inches of the flag on the last hole of the tournament at Jumeirah Golf Estates also earned him The European Tour Shot of the Year. - Peter Uihlein became the first American to win the Sir Henry Cotton European Tour Rookie of the Year, having claimed his maiden European Tour event, the Madeira Islands Open. Uihlein finished 14th in The Race to Dubai rankings after playing in 24 contributing events and amassing a quintuplet of top five finishes. - Matteo Manassero won the flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship to make this the Italian’s fourth consecutive year winning a European Tour event since turning pro in 2010. - There were twelve first time winners on The Race to Dubai schedule: Scott Jamieson, Chris Wood, Matt Kuchar, Dawie Van der Walt, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Peter Uihlein, Simon Thornton, Jason Dufner, Tommy Fleetwood, Jin Jeong, Dustin Johnson, Victor Dubuisson.

- Phil Mickelson claimed back to back triumphs in Scotland as he captured the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and The 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield. - Justin Rose finally realised his huge potential to win his first Major Championship, the US Open, by two shots ahead of Phil Mickelson and Jason Day at Merion Golf Club, Pennsylvania. - He and Dave Thomas were awarded honorary life membership of The European Tour. - Colin Montgomerie, Willie Park Jnr and Ken Schofield were all inducted into the World Golf Hall Of Fame. 2014 -Europe convincingly won The Ryder Cup 16½ - 11½ at Gleneagles, Scotland, under the uncompromising leadership of Captain Paul McGinley. A European team lived up to their billing as ‘favourites’ and resoundingly saw off their American counterparts. Victory in the biennial contest came largely due to their convincing foursomes displays in which they claimed seven of the eight points available. - Rory McIlroy became the first player to win The Race to Dubai for a second time since its inception in 2009.

The Northern Irishman won four tournaments in the process of amassing an unassailable 7,149,503 points and also reclaiming the World Number One spot, having started the calendar year in seventh place. - Victory at the flagship BMW PGA Championship proved the catalyst for a resoundingly successful second half of the season for McIlroy. - Three quarters of the year’s Major Championships were won by European Tour Members. Rory McIlroy won his maiden Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club before capturing a second US PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club as the last event in an unprecedented hat trick of wins. Earlier in the season, a resurgent Martin Kaymer won the US Open, where he surged to victory by eight shots to take a second career Major at Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina. - Brooks Koepka emulated the achievement of his close friend Peter Uihlein when he was named the 2014 Sir Henry Cotton European Tour Rookie of the Year. A debut win at the third Final Series event, the Turkish Airlines Open, ensured that Koepka became the second American in as many seasons to be bestowed the coveted award.

- Miguel Angel Jiménez extended his record as the oldest European Tour winner at the Open de España at PGA Catalunya Resort. It was Jiménez’s 27th attempt to win his home tournament and the Spaniard finally achieved the feat at the tender age of 50 years and 133 days. - Colin Montgomerie reached a landmark 600th European Tour appearance at the Turkish Airlines Open. The milestone was appropriately played over a course named after the eight-time European Tour Order of Merit Champion, the Montgomerie Maxx Royal. - Henrik Stenson won the second of his back to back DP World Tour Championships in Dubai to ensure he finished the year second in the Official Golf World Rankings for a second year running. - Three European Tour Members finished 2014 in the top five of the Official World Golf Rankings, with Sergio Garcia joining McIlroy and Stenson. - Rory McIlroy finished second to Lewis Hamilton in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. - Chief Executive, George O’Grady announced plans to appoint an eventual successor to lead The European Tour into a new era.

2015 10 Interesting Facts About The Ryder Cup 10 Interesting Facts About The Ryder Cup David Frederick Photo by @rydercupusa The history of the inaugural Ryder Cup is something that never ceases to fascinate me, dominance of the tournament has switched hands so many times between the two teams and a number of phenomenal golfers have come and gone. In this article I will tell the tale of one of sport’s most celebrated competitions. The first real international golf match wasn’t contested between Great Britain and the U.S; it was contested between the French and the U.S. The event was such a success that a return fixture was scheduled for seven months later at Versailles, when a team of four French professionals comprehensively defeated an U.S. team, 6-0. In my opinion, this is when the concept of an international team event was born. In 1921 a match between the U.S and Great Britain was promoted by the circulator manager of Golf Illustrated. The match took place at Gleneagles, Scotland as a follow up act to the Glasgow Heralds 1000 Guineas tournament. The first match wasn’t very successful, but interest was certainly generated.

Around the same time, Samuel Ryder, a British entrepreneur ran a number of golf tournaments for British professionals with the aim of promoting his seed company. After suffering from health problems, fresh air and regular exercise was the doctor’s recommendation to Ryder, which inspired him to take up golf. After become infatuated for the sport, Ryder hired golfing legend Abe Mitchell to teach him the tricks of the trade. Ryder was a huge fan of Mitchell and was present at an unofficial match in 1926 that saw Great Britain defeat the U.S. After long discussions with Mitchell and other professionals, a regular competition between the two nations was suggested. Ryder offered to donate a cup to the competition, his offer was duly accepted and in 1927, the first official Ryder cup was played. Matches between the two golfing giants were relatively even until after the second world war when the US domination came to the fore. This prompted the decision to change the British & Irish team to Europe in 1973. The change allowed a new generation of talented Spanish golfers such as Antonio Garrido and Severiano to play in the event. Since then the European team has featured players from France, Denmark, Germany, Italy and Sweden.

10 Ryder Cup Facts The official Ryder Cup trophy is 17 inches tall, nine inches wide and weighs four pounds. The trophy was modeled to resemble British golfing great Abe Mitchell. Between the years of 1935 and 1985, Europe only won the Ryder Cup once. In 1977, Englishman Peter Dawson was the first left hander to play in the Ryder Cup. Sir Nick Faldo holds the record for most match wins with 23 victories. America won the first Ryder Cup tournament, which was hosted by Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts. There have only been six holes-in ones in the history of the Ryder Cup, just one of these was by an American. The youngest player to play in the Ryder Cup was Sergio Garcia in 1999; he made his debut at the tender age of just 19. In 1993 at the age of 51, Raymond Floyd became the oldest player to make a Ryder Cup debut. With 11 Ryder Cup competitions under his belt, Nick Faldo has appeared in more Ryder Cup competitions that any other golfer.

Question: What British golfer became the youngest Ryder Cup player in 1977?
Answer: Nick Faldo