Over 100 faces of famous men and women golfers sculpted in bronze are on public show, for the first time, at The Open in St Andrews. The public art installation entitled ‘Faces of Golf’ is exhibited at the award winning British Golf Museum and will form part of its permanent collection.
Open and US Open Champion and two-time winning European Ryder Cup Captain, Tony Jacklin – one of the faces in the work – unveiled the installation gifted to the museum by renowned British-American sculptor, Lawrence Holofcener.
Mr Holofcener, who was present at the unveiling, is best known for the London landmark, Allies, wartime leaders Churchill and Roosevelt sharing a park bench that is evocative of the special relationship between the two nations.
Lawrence Holofcener said: “I have long been a fan of professional golf and felt inspired to celebrate the careers of these great men and women I have followed and their legendary predecessors.
“As an artist, I wanted to create a sculpture which includes faces of people from different times, different places and different backgrounds – a representation of some of the remarkable people who have contributed, over the years, to this wonderful game.”
There are 116 faces in the new work that range from Mary, Queen of Scots whose reign spanned 25 years in the 16th century to reigning Open Champion, Rory McIlroy. The installation features the faces of 93 men, of which 44 are Open Champions, and 23 women including Major winners Dame Laura Davies, Annika Sorenstam and Louise Suggs.
Open Champions represented in the ‘Faces of Golf’ art work are: Jamie Anderson (1877, ‘78,’79), Tommy Armour (1931), John Ball (1890), Seve Ballesteros (1979,’84,’88), Jim Barnes (1925), James Braid (1901,’05,’06,’08,’10), Sir Bob Charles (1963), Sir Henry Cotton (1934,’37,’38), Roberto de Vicenzo (1967), Ernie Els (2002,’12), Sir Nick Faldo (1987,’90,’92), Bob Ferguson (1880,’81,’82), Walter Hagen (1922,’24,’28,’29), Padraig Harrington (2007.’08), Harold Hilton (1892,’97), Ben Hogan (1953), Tony Jacklin (1969), Bobby Jones (1926,’27,’30), Bobby Locke (1949,’50,’52,’57), Sandy Lyle (1985), Arnaud Massy (1907), Rory McIlroy (2014), Phil Mickelson (2013), Johnny Miller (1976), Tom Morris Sr. (1861,’62,’64,’67), Tom Morris Jr. (1868,’69,’70,’72), Jack Nicklaus, (1966,’70,’78), Greg Norman (1968.’93), Mark O’Meara (1998), Arnold Palmer (1961,’62), Willie Park Jr. (1887,’89), Willie Park Sr. (1860,’63,’66,75), Gary Player (1959,’68,’74), Nick Price (1994), Ted Ray (1912), Gene Sarazen (1932), Denny Shute (1933), Sam Snead (1946), J.H.Taylor (1894,’95,1900,’09,’13), Peter Thomson (1954,’55,’56,’58,’65), Lee Trevino (1971,’72), Harry Vardon (1896,’98,’99,1903,’11,’14), Tom Watson (1975,’77,’80,’82,’83) and Tiger Woods (2000,’05,’06).
British Golf Museum www.britishgolfmuseum.co.uk
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