PGAsofEUROPE
Langer and Lawrie lead PGAE award winners
Major champions Bernhard Langer and Paul Lawrie were among the honourees during the PGAs of Europe’s 2015 congress gala awards supported by Rolex at Gloria Hotels & Resorts in southern Turkey
n total, six award winners were recognised for exceptional efforts that have benefited the sport in a variety of ways such as golf development activity, individual playing performances, dedication to the industry, and expertise and passion for coaching in golf. Leading the way was
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Langer, a two-time Masters winner and the Champions Tour’s 2015 Charles Schwab Cup winner, with the PGAE lifetime achievement award. One of the most consistent
and resilient professionals ever to have played the game, the 58-year-old German said, via a satellite link from his home in Florida: “I am so honoured and blessed to receive this award. I also want to congratulate all of the 21,000-plus professionals across the PGAs of Europe’s membership for what [they] do…and I really appreciate what the PGAs of Europe is doing for the game.” Hailing from Bavaria, Langer turned professional in 1972 – eight years
at the young age of 15 – he was like a second father to me and taught me not just golf-related stuff, but also things I needed to learn about life and character. Then I met Willy Hoffman who has been my swing coach and golf coach over the last 40 years and helped me a great deal. They both are still very good friends of mine.” Lawrie, winner of the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie, received
the PGAE’s 5-star professional award for his contribution to the profession across a wide range of areas and activities. Nominated by the PGA in Scotland, Lawrie was recognized especially for his work in developing the Paul Lawrie Foundation as well as his playing successes over the years. “I’d like to thank everyone at the PGA in Scotland for nominating me,”
said Lawrie, who received the award at the PGA of Great Britain & Ireland’s annual lunch shortly aſter the PGAE annual congress. “I learned a tremendous amount in my early days in the PGA from Sandy Jones and Peter Lloyd on the role of not only a club professional but how to be a successful touring professional.” Lawrie, now 47, began his PGA training in 1986 and subsequently joined the European Tour in 1992 where he has since won seven times, most recently the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in 2012. He has also made two Ryder Cup appearances. He has a golf centre in his name in Aberdeen and supports the Ladies’
Bernhard Langer
before the first of his 40 European Tour victories in the Dunlop Masters. He has a total of 98 professional wins worldwide. His Masters victories came in 1985 and 1993 at Augusta National and he became the first player to top the official world golf ranking when it was introduced in 1986. More recently, Langer has been a record-breaking stalwart of the
Champions Tour, claiming five senior majors since turning 50 in 2007. His 13 top-10 finishes in 2015 helped him to his second consecutive Charles Schwab Cup, and he is now the first player to win it three times in his career. In addition, he represented Europe in no fewer than 10 Ryder Cups, and also captained the team to a record 18½-9½ victory over the United States at Oakland Hills Country Club in 2004. The Hall of Famer was also quick to recognise the influence that PGA
professionals have had on his extensive career: “They have been extremely important in my life. I was very fortunate to meet Heinz Fehring
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Tartan Tour in Scotland, but perhaps most significantly he created the Paul Lawrie Foundation in 2001 with the aim of encouraging young people to play golf and enjoy it, especially those with aspirations to become the touring professionals of the future. “I’d also like to thank the Ryder Cup European Development Trust for
being a massive part of our Foundation,” Lawrie added. “This has been on the go since 2001 and teaches kids not only about golf, but about how to behave, speak and how to play; it’s all extremely important.” The Foundation also supports a number of UK professionals on the
Ladies European Tour, Challenge Tour and EuroPro Tour as well as the Ladies’ Tartan Tour and various other PGA events in Scotland events. The Paul Lawrie Invitational has been played since 2011, giving young professionals, top amateurs and seasoned campaigners a quality tournament with a significant prize fund. “Through all of these contributions to the game of golf, Paul has proven himself to be a role model for golfers of all ages and both genders,” stated the PGA in Scotland in their nomination. Guy Kinnings, perhaps best-known as the International Management Group executive who looks aſter Colin Montgomerie, received the Christer
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