John Jacobs OBE, the founding father of The European Tour, has been given the ultimate accolade by his fellow peers with the award of a Life Membership to The Professional Golfers' Association.
The 77 year old joins an elite group of seven other PGA Life Members, namely Geoff Cotton, Keith Hockey, Bernard Hunt MBE, Tony Jacklin CBE, Derek Nash, John Panton MBE and John Stirling.
Jacobs said: "I was made an Honorary Member a few years ago but to be given this Life Membership is really something else, especially when you consider that there are only seven other people to have achieved this in the 100 year history of the Association.
"On a personal level it was thrilling to learn that my Membership had been proposed by my great friend John Stirling. He is also a Life Member and so it's a great privilege to be held in the same esteem as him.
"I was also told that the proposal had been seconded by Gerry Egan, which also means a great deal to me as he used to be my assistant in Dublin more than 30 years ago."
Sandy Jones, Chief Executive of the PGA, said: "The contribution made by John over the years has been immense and this was the obvious way to reward his commitment to golf.
“He has an exemplary record as a member of the organisation, which was first recognised a few years ago when he was made an Honorary Member.
"Throughout his life he has dedicated an enormous amount to the game and has also done a fantastic job of promoting the PGA so John is fully deserving of this recognition from his peers."
It was in October 1971 that Jacobs was appointed Tournament Director-General of the PGA, a move which marked the official birth of The European Tour and he carried on in that role until he was succeeded by Ken Schofield as Executive Director at the beginning of 1975.
A successful Ryder Cup player and captain, administrator, author and commentator, it was in the realm of golf teaching that Jacobs built up an unrivalled reputation throughout the world and earned him the title of 'Dr Golf.'
Butch Harmon, the coach to, amongst others, World Number One Tiger Woods, said: "There is not one teacher who does not owe something to John. He wrote the book on coaching."
He was awarded the OBE for his services to golf by the Queen in her 1997 Birthday Honours List and in November 2000 he was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame. This was closely followed in January 2001 when he inducted into the US Teaching Hall of Fame.
