Tony Jacklin, CBE, the greatest Ryder Cup Captain in history, is paying tribute to the greatest Ryder Cup players in history by personally selecting them for The Tony Jacklin Ryder Cup Collection, a series of oil painted portraits by the world renowned golf portrait artist, Joe Austen.
The Tony Jacklin Ryder Cup Collection was launched by Tony on the occasion of the 144th Open Championship, in an event held in The Austen Gallery, located a few feet from the 18th fairway of The Old Course in St Andrews, where the Collection will remain on permanent exhibition, paying enduring tribute to the greats of golf in the heart of The Home of Golf.
“I have chosen to honour the men whose enormous contributions in the past have transformed The Ryder Cup into the phenomenon it is today,” said Tony, whose inspirational Captaincy in four Ryder Cups is unprecedented and unequalled. Among the exceptional qualities which characterised his greatness as a Ryder Cup Captain was his recognition of the greatness in others, and his ability to provide the opportunities and inspirational leadership to maximise their greatness.
Paying tribute to the greatness in others in the history of The Ryder Cup, from its earliest beginnings to the present day, is at the very heart of Tony’s selection of those chosen for his Collection, beginning with Samuel Ryder himself, and Abe Mitchell, the professional who inspired him, and continuing with the greats of the game, past and present, including Walter Hagen, Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Paul McGinley, Arnold Palmer, Justin Rose, Phil Mickelson, Percy and Peter Alliss, Ian Poulter, Eamonn Darcy, Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Sam Torrance, Paul Azinger, Nick Faldo, Ben Crenshaw, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Woosnam, Lanny Wadkins and Bernhard Langer, with the anticipation that further portraits of Tony’s choice will be added to the Collection in the future.
In tribute to the golfers chosen by Tony, Co-signed Limited Edition Canvas Giclée Prints of The Tony Jacklin Ryder Cup Collection are being produced, with each edition being limited to 100 canvas Giclée prints of each portrait. The first three Editions to be released are of Tony Jacklin, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. Each of the 100 canvas Giclée of Jack Nicklaus is individually signed by Jack, Tony and Joe, with the 100 canvas Giclée of Tom Watson being co-signed by Tom, Tony and Joe, and Tony Jacklin’s prints being co-signed by Tony and Joe (a percentage of revenues from the Co-signed Prints will be donated to the champions’ charities).
While Tony’s effect upon world golf has been to transform it in so many ways, the resulting transformations have themselves become enduring elements in the traditions and history of the game. In the establishment of The Tony Jacklin Ryder Cup Collection, another element is being added to those traditions and history.
Tony Jacklin Ryder Cup Collection www.rydercupcollection.com
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