The achievements of Graeme McDowell and immense contribution to the game of golf by Bernhard Langer were recognised by the Association of Golf Writers at their annual dinner ahead of The Open at Royal St George’s last night.
Along with the two main award winners, guests in the R&A marquee included the reigning Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen, Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel, Open Champions Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Paul Lawrie and Sandy Lyle, Dubai World Champion Robert Karlsson and the youngest winner in European Tour history, Matteo Manassero.
McDowell received the prestigious AGW Golfer of the Year trophy from Chairman Bill Elliott after winning the writers’ poll for his outstanding 2010 season when he ended a 40 year wait for a European winner of the US Open and secured the winning point in The Ryder Cup.
“It is an honour to receive this award and the fact it is from from the experts who write about our game makes it even more special,” said McDowell. “I have seen many great champions pick this trophy up and to have my name alongside these is a huge honour.”
Two-time Masters Champion Langer, who will also be competing in the Senior Open Championship at Walton Heath next week, received the Michael Williams Outstanding Services to Golf award from Judy Williams, the wife of the late golf correspondent of the Daily Telegraph in whose memory the award was established.
“Bernhard Langer is a man of stature, of ability, of nerve and of class,” said Elliott in his introduction. “He is without doubt the most gracious winner and loser who has ever played this great game. He has made an immense contribution to European and world golf.”
Els earlier received the Golf Foundation 'Spirit of Golf' award from the charity's president Colin Montgomerie. The South African set up his own Foundation in his home country and two of the products of that are current Major Champions - Louis Oosthuizen won The Open last July and Charl Schwartzel triumphed at The Masters this April.
