US PGA Champion Martin Kaymer, US Open Champion Graeme McDowell and Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen have been presented with European golf’s highest award of Honorary Life Membership of The European Tour.
The three Major Champions were presented with their silver Honorary Life Membership cards and money clips by George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, at a special presentation in the Jumeirah Golf Estates clubhouse ahead of the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World.
Players, sponsors, media, staff and supporters joined the applause, recognising the Major Championship achievements of the three players at the end of a magnificent season for European golf.
In June, McDowell became the first European to win the US Open Championship in 40 years when he triumphed at Pebble Beach Golf Links. The following month Oosthuizen dominated the field to win The Open Championship at St Andrews and then in August, Kaymer became only the second German to win a Major when he won a play-off at Whistling Straits to capture the US PGA Championship.
“We, as The European Tour, would like to honour these three players with the highest award we can give which is Honorary Membership of The European Tour,” said O’Grady. “We have just had a stunning photo on the first tee with Lee Westwood, the defending Dubai World Champion, and we now present them with the silver Honorary Life Membership card and money clip to wear with pride.
“Congratulations to Graeme McDowell, the first European to win the US Open since Tony Jacklin 40 years earlier; to Martin Kaymer, the second German player to receive this award after Bernhard Langer following his magnificent US PGA Championship win; and to the Open Champion, who follows so many great South African players who have their name on that trophy, from Bobby Locke and Gary Player to Ernie Els, and now joining Ernie, Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman as an Honorary Member of the Tour, Louis Oosthuizen.”
Responding on behalf of the three new Honorary Life Members of The European Tour, McDowell said: “It has been a great year for European Tour golf. With Europe also winning The Ryder Cup, and to have Lee Westwood as the World’s Number One golfer, it has been a pretty good year for European golf and we are all proud to be part of The European Tour and look forward to a big weekend. George, thank you very much.”
