Göran Zachrisson, the respected Swedish journalist and commentator, has died following a short illness. He was 83 years old.
Known as ‘Mr Golf’ in his native Sweden, Zachrisson commentated on the game he loved for more than 60 years.
He started his career at Svensk golf magazine before working as a journalist for SVT and as a commentator for Viasat. As well as golf, he also commentated on a number of other sports, including the Olympic Games, and in 2012 his interview with Swedish football legends Zlatan Ibrahimović was seen by more than two million people in Sweden.
Henrik Stenson, Sweden’s first male Major Champion, today led the tributes to Zachrisson, who chronicled the remarkable rise in Swedish golf on the European Tour from the 1980s onwards.
A dear friend has left us. Mr Golf in Sweden, Göran Zachrisson, has moved on to the fairways above. We will miss you dearly! 💚 pic.twitter.com/LddtmZbnjF
— Henrik Stenson (@henrikstenson) August 11, 2021
Sweden’s most successful female player, Annika Sorenstam, also paid tribute to Zachrisson.
Sad to hear that one of Sweden’s most decorated sport journalists have passed. Göran Zachrisson was a trailblazer in golf commentary. His passion & knowledge brought many to the game. Thanks for all the years of entertainment! #RIP #media
— Annika Sorenstam (@ANNIKA59) August 11, 2021
Mats Lanner, one of the earlier Swedish pioneers on the European Tour and a current European Tour Rules Official, said: “I’m sad to hear that my dear friend Göran has passed away. He was always a gentleman and had so much knowledge about the game, so it was always joyful spending time with him both on and off the course. Thanks for all you did for the game and for all the good memories.”
Fellow commentator, Ewen Murray, of Sky Sports, tweeted: “An outstanding man, wonderful colleague and a person it was a privilege to share time with. A conversation with Goran was a sheer joy and all his friends will miss that. Sad day."
Richard Bunn, Managing Director of European Tour Productions, said: “Göran was a true gentleman and one of a kind. He had the full respect of everyone he worked with and who heard his insightful commentary. On behalf of everyone at the European Tour and European Tour Productions, he will be sorely missed, and our thoughts are with his family.”
Zachrisson’s impact was also felt outside of Sweden. Having joined the Association of Golf Writers (AGW) in 1987, he was President of the Association from 2015 – 2018, becoming the first non-Brit in the AGW’s history to hold the position.
He was also a member of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and in 2018 he was given the Special Recognition Award by the Confederation of Professional Golf.
Martin Dempster, Chairman of the Association of Golf Writers, said: “Goran, who was our first non-British AGW President, was one of the game’s great characters, sharing many of the same qualities as his close friend, Henrik Stenson.
“He was great company and many of our members, including another of his dearest friends and the man he succeeded as President, Renton Laidlaw, will be raising a glass in his memory.”
