Scots Inducted Into Hall of Fame

Montgomerie speaks of his pride at selection alongside fellow Scot Ken Schofield

RYDER CUP legend Colin Montgomerie and former European Tour chief Ken Schofield are to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum in May this year.

Montgomerie - elected through the International Ballot - and Schofield - selected through the Lifetime Achievement Category - will be honoured along with fellow 2013 inductees Fred Couples, Willie Park Jnr and Ken Venturi at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on May 6, at the World Golf Village in St Augustine, Florida.

European Tour boss George O’Grady said the pair’s contribution to European golf and the Ryder Cup made them worthy of such an honour.

SPECIAL
“This is a very special day for golf and for The European Tour,” said O’Grady. “Colin and Ken are unique individuals and their contribution to not only the European Tour, on and off the fairways, but also the Ryder Cup makes them both very worthy candidates for the World Golf Hall of Fame.”

Montgomerie said he was surprised and delighted to hear about the honour. “It is a wonderful surprise to hear that I will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame next year,” he said. “I know I am very fortunate to have enjoyed such a successful career playing the game I love and it makes me feel very proud that my achievements have been recognised in this way.

“I am delighted that my dear friend Ken Schofield’s notable contribution to European golf will also be recognised at this year’s ceremony and I look forward to sharing this special occasion with him.”

Schofield became First Secretary and Executive Director of The European Tour on January 1, 1975, succeeding John Jacobs. When he took the helm, The European Tour comprised 17 official events with an official prize fund of €599,084 and when he retired at the end of 2004 there were 45 official events with official prize money of £106,010,654.

Since his retirement Schofield, born and raised in Perthshire, Scotland, where he became, aged 23, Scotland’s youngest bank manager, has become an integral part of the Golf Channel’s coverage of the Ryder Cup and majors and served for five years as president of the Golf Foundation.

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