The superb achievements of Luke Donald and renowned coach Pete Cowen were recognised by the Association of Golf Writers during their annual dinner ahead of The Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes last night.
Joining Donald at the dinner were fellow Ryder Cup players Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood along with representatives of the victorious Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup team – Amy Boulden, Kelly Tidy, Charley Hull, Bronte Law and their Captain Tegwen Matthews – and Walker Cup Captain Nigel Edwards.
Donald received the prestigious Golf Writers Trophy following his historic feat of winning the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic last year when he won The Race to Dubai and the US PGA Tour Money List, and reached the summit of world golf by becoming Number One of the Official World Golf Rankings.
Cowen, coach to the defending champion Darren Clarke, was presented with the Michael Williams Outstanding Services to Golf Award, by another of his famous pupils, World Number Three Lee Westwood.
David Facey, golf correspondent of The Sun newspaper, welcomed guests from all over the world before George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour and a member of Royal Lytham & St Annes, responded on behalf of the guests, recounting some of his early golfing experiences on the Lancashire Links.
