Sergio Garcia, the reigning Masters Champion, has been awarded Honorary Life Membership of the European Tour in recognition of his triumph at Augusta National in April.
The 13-time European Tour winner becomes the 53nd player to be added to the exclusive list and is just the third Spaniard to receive the accolade, after Seve Ballesteros (1983) and José María Olazábal (1994).
The 37 year old was presented with the award by European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley during Real Club Valderrama’s President’s Dinner at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation, where Garcia entered the weekend in contention for a 14th title.
Garcia sealed his maiden Major Championship title in thrilling fashion in Georgia, overcoming his four-time Ryder Cup team mate Justin Rose on the first play-off hole after they matched each other on the final day with rounds of 69, having shared the third round lead.
His victory was widely celebrated 18 years after he first broke onto the scene as a precocious teenager. He turned professional after being the only amateur to make the cut at the 1999 Masters, and three months later won his first European Tour title at the Irish Open. He then played a starring role at the US PGA Championship in August of that year before making his Ryder Cup debut in September.
Garcia currently has 31 professional victories to his name, including ten on the US PGA Tour and five on the Asian Tour, while he has made eight appearances in The Ryder Cup, contributing to five European victories and racking up a points total of 22.5.
“This is an incredible honour for me,” said Garcia. “To join Seve and José María on the list of Honorary Members for the European Tour is very special and adds to what has already been a life-changing year for me, on and off the course.
“I have always loved playing on the European Tour and I have had so many unforgettable moments there, while there is no more special privilege than representing Europe in The Ryder Cup. I am humbled to be mentioned in the same breath as Seve, José María and the other great players on this list and it is a very special moment for me.”
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “It is an absolute privilege to present Sergio Garcia with Honorary Life Membership of the European Tour. The world of golf rejoiced at his Masters triumph in April and this week, where he is the host of the Andalucia Valderrama Masters, is the perfect setting to commemorate that victory.”
Garcia was also presented with Honorary Life Membership of Real Club Valderrama by the club’s President Nuno De Brito De Cunha.
Honorary Life Members |
1978 John Jacobs OBE |
1978 Bernard Hunt MBE |
1978 Dai Rees CBE |
1982 Peter Butler |
1983 Seve Ballesteros |
1983 Tony Jacklin CBE |
1985 Sir Henry Cotton MBE |
1985 Fred Daly MBE |
1985 Max Faulkner OBE |
1985 Bernhard Langer |
1985 Sandy Lyle MBE |
1987 Sir Nick Faldo MBE |
1992 Ian Woosnam OBE |
1994 José María Olazábal |
1995 Bob Charles |
1995 Arnold Palmer |
1995 Gary Player |
1997 Colin Montgomerie OBE |
1998 Ernie Els |
1999 Paul Lawrie OBE |
1999 Greg Norman |
2001 Vijay Singh |
2002 Retief Goosen |
2003 Peter Alliss |
2003 Bernard Gallacher OBE |
2004 Neil Coles MBE |
2004 Christy O’Connor |
2004 John Panton |
2005 Michael Campbell |
2007 Angel Cabrera |
2007 Padraig Harrington |
2008 Trevor Immelman |
2010 Martin Kaymer |
2010 Graeme McDowell MBE |
2010 Louis Oosthuizen |
2010 Tom Watson |
2011 Darren Clarke OBE |
2011 Rory McIlroy MBE |
2011 Charl Schwartzel |
2011 Lee Westwood OBE |
2012 Luke Donald MBE |
2012 Brian Huggett MBE |
2012 Tommy Horton MBE |
2012 Mark James |
2012 Roger Chapman |
2013 Dave Thomas |
2013 Justin Rose |
2014 Jack Nicklaus |
2016 Peter Oosterhuis |
2016 Danny Willett |
2016 Henrik Stenson |
2017 Sam Torrance |
2017 Sergio Garcia |