Tony Jacklin CBE was the most successful golfer of his generation and Great Britain's first golfing superstar. We salute a man who ensured that he left a legacy for the golfing stars of today...
Jacklin became a European golfing hero in the 1960s and 70s when he secured two major titles - The US Open and The Open Championship but it is his overall contribution to European golf in a period of American dominance that captivated all in the golfing world.
In recent years, the European golfing contingent have dominated the headlines, with golfers including Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer all either winning majors or topping the world rankings. In 2014, the European team cemented their Ryder Cup dominance by winning the famous trophy on home soil in convincing fashion. None of this would have seemed possible forty years ago and it is Jacklin's contribution to golf, shepherding young Ryder Cup hopefuls in the 1980s, including the likes of Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam and Bernhard Langer, that paved the way for the current generation of European Tour stars. Tony Jacklin was, and remains, the pioneer for European golf that we are so lucky to experience in the modern game.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Winner of The Open Championship 1969
- Winner of the US Open 1970
- 22 European Tour victories
- First European Ryder Cup Captain to win on American Soil
- Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame 2002
- Received the PGA Recognition Award 2008
