Nearly 40 years after signing his first professional contract with John Letters of Scotland, Ryder Cup legend and Seniors Tour star Sam Torrance has rejoined the great Scottish equipment brand as he seeks to win his fourth Order of Merit and secure his first major.
A delighted Torrance commented: “It’s lovely; I’m back to my roots. The first contract I ever had was with John Letters and I signed that at the end of 1971.”
John Letters are celebrating after capturing the signature and services of one of Scotland’s most celebrated golfers. With over 43 professional wins, eight Ryder Cup appearances and victory as European Ryder Cup captain, Torrance epitomises Scottish Golf and the agreement sees two of Scotland’s most famous names join forces once again.
John Andrew, Managing Director of John Letters of Scotland Ltd, said: “We are delighted to add Sam to our playing staff. With both our roots in Scotland, Sam provides the perfect fit with the Letters brand.”
Still hunting his first major title, Torrance has turned to John Letters, as he did some 40 years earlier, in a bid to secure the elusive crown.
“The John Letters Company was a huge help to me back then” reminisces Torrance, who was awarded an OBE in 2003 after leading Europe to victory over the Americans in the 2002 Ryder Cup.
“John Letters’ brother, Jimmy, actually got me the job at Sunningdale as an assistant Pro in 1971 and it was there that I met Norman Mackenzie who sponsored me on the Tour” he added.
Winning twice in his first full year with Letters, securing the Lord Derby’s under 25 Matchplay Championship beating another Letters staff player Bernard Gallagher in the semi-finals and also winning the Radicci Open in Italy, Sam is looking for the same impact this time round after putting pen to paper on a multi-year agreement last week.
“My whole career, my whole life, I wanted to win the Order of Merit and win a Major. I never managed either on the main tour. I finished second, third, fourth, fifth and never won a Major. But since I have been on the Senior Tour I have won the Order of Merit three times and I want to win a Major before I stop” enthused Torrance.
The agreement will see Torrance represent John Letters on the Seniors Tours Worldwide over the coming years, using the great Scottish Equipment brand’s equipment with pride.
With a 92 year history of craftsmanship within the game, few can rival the track record of clubmaking achievements of John Letters; reportedly winning the British Open more than any other club maker.
Torrance rejoins a host of other tour professionals such as Fred Daly, Dai Rees, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Cathy Panton, Bernard Gallacher and Paul Lawrie who all played with John Letters equipment on tour, over the course of their 92 year history.
John Andrew went on to say: “We have some exciting plans for John Letters and having a Ryder Cup legend like Sam Torrance back on-board as our ambassador is a huge step forward. Not only does it reconnect the brand with its past but we are also looking to create some history together.”
With new investors into John Letters of Scotland Limited and a renewed enthusiasm to extend the brands appeal, UK Golf Distribution, a specialist golf distribution company, has been tasked with growing the brand globally, which until now had only be available through leading golf retailer Direct Golf UK.
John Letters www.johnletters.com