Ken Schofield CBE, executive director of The European Tour, received the Association of Golf Writers‘ Award for Outstanding Services to Golf when he was presented with the Michael Williams Trophy, named in memory of the late golf correspondent of The Daily Telegraph, by Michael’s widow Judy during the AGW annual dinner prior to the Open Golf Championship at Royal Troon.
On receiving the award, Schofield said, “It is a great honour to receive this award and follow in the footsteps of previous winners Sir Michael Bonallack, Percy Huggins, Joan Rothschild and John Jacobs. I am particularly honoured to receive this award for three reasons. Firstly, this award highlights the respect between the Association of Golf Writers and The European Tour and this is an award not for myself but for the whole team. Secondly this is an award perpetuated in the name of Michael Williams who I counted as a good friend and it means a great deal to me to receive this prestigious award in his name. And thirdly I would like to remember George Simms, who brought me here 33 years ago for my first Open and who taught me a great deal as I embarked on my new career. He would be very proud to see me here today.”
John Hopkins, chairman of the AGW, said: “The Committee felt that Ken’s dogged determination to secure the best that he possibly could for The European Tour and its members over the 30 years that he has been Executive Director provided a compelling case for him to receive this award.
“We felt that Peter Dawson (chief executive of the R&A) summed up Ken’s contribution aptly when he said: ‘He is never one to take no for an answer. When obstacles present themselves he won‘t lie down, he just goes through, round or over them‘.”
Schofield, 58, succeeded John Jacobs as executive director of The European Tour in 1975, since when the Tour has experienced extraordinary growth. He has also overseen the development of the Seniors and Challenge Tours and has worked tirelessly to open up increased opportunities for European Tour Members in the Major Championships in the United States.
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