Earlier this week at the BMW PGA Championship, Thomas Bjørn was presented with the Golf Foundation’s Spirit of Golf Award, the most prestigious award of the charity that introduces children to golf from all backgrounds, creating golfers, because golf can change lives.
L-R: Thomas Bjørn, Tom Paterson and Brendon Pyle
The 15-time European Tour winner has been recognised for his epic #Wentworth2Wales 210km walk which created awareness for the Golf Foundation, raising £20,000 for the charity’s work to grow the game in schools, communities and golf clubs and £20,000 for UNICEF.
Brendon Pyle, Golf Foundation CEO, said: “This was a fantastic gesture by Thomas to offer his time and energy on his walk, and to make us a joint recipient of the fundraising with UNICEF. Our charity team is so grateful to him. For his battling walk in the year of Covid-19, for all his achievements in golf, and for his competitive edge, humour and sense of fair play, we wish to honour Thomas with our Spirit of Golf Award.”
Given the #GolfForGood theme of the walk, it was particularly fitting that this award could be presented with European Tour support during the BMW PGA Championship.
Recalling the timing of his charity walk, Bjørn said: “At that moment in time we were all uncertain about what was ahead of us, and I wanted to support the Golf Foundation and the work it does to get young people into golf. I think that we have learned during Covid-19 that golf is such a great sport for everyone, and after the lockdowns it’s great to get more kids playing outside again.
“The Golf Foundation gives an opportunity for young kids who wouldn’t normally get in touch with golf to try the sport. This shows golf is not just for a certain type of demographic and I think that is very important. I am really proud of the walk, but I’m also really proud of the work we can do together with the Golf Foundation to do something good for the game of golf, so thank you all very much.”
Tom Paterson, aged 15, was also presented with the Dinah Oxley Spirit of Golf Award, for his outstanding contribution as a junior golfer at his club and in the community.
During the pandemic with the courses closed, Tom also raised £400 for the charity MIND, by setting himself golf targets and challenges during lockdown. He channelled his passion into helping others, setting up a fun daily blog on how his charity challenge was progressing: to play for an hour every day outdoors whatever the weather for 100 days straight.
Pyle said: “This has been great to thank Tom personally and his family for the great work he has done for his club and in the community. He is clearly a generous, caring young man who wants to help others through his passion for golf, while expecting nothing in return.
“We are delighted to award the first Dinah Oxley Spirit of Golf Award to Tom Paterson, and we are sure that Dinah, who was so supportive of young golfers, would be impressed with Tom’s remarkable attitude and his great support of the young golfers around him.”
After receiving his award from Bjørn, Paterson added: “I feel very honoured and humble, it’s the best experience of my life to be recognised like this by the Golf Foundation and to receive this award from Thomas today. I am very passionate about growing the game and helping young golfers and I’ll keep doing this. I’d also like to thank the family of Dinah Oxley for being so supportive of me today.”
