Phil Sheldon, one of the world’’s foremost golf photographers over the past three decades, had died at the age of 52 in North London Hospice, Finchley, after a long battle against illness.
George O’’Grady, Executive Director of The European Tour, said: “Everyone on The European Tour will be immensely saddened by this news. Phil has been around the Tour for virtually the same length of time that it has been in existence.
“He has borne the challenge of illness with great courage and fortitude and will be sorely missed not only by his family - Gill, Jack and Alfie - but by everyone in the world of golf.”
Photography was Phil’’s passion from an early age and he studied the art of taking pictures at Harrow College before working with Sports & General in London in 1974. After turning freelance, he worked for the Sunday Telegraph and Sunday Times before, in 1982, he became the first sports photographer for Fleet Street’’s fledgling newspaper, The Mail on Sunday.
He returned to the life of a freelance soon afterwards and over the years he covered all the Major Championships, comprising 24 Masters Tournaments, 21 US Open Championships, 25 Open Championships, 18 US PGA Championships and 11 Ryder Cups for a variety of magazines and newspapers.
His first Open was at Royal Birkdale in 1976, and although Johnny Miller of the United States won the Claret Jug, it was the British public’’s first encounter with a golfer whose image was captured by Phil on numerous occasions, Seve Ballesteros.
He photographed over 300 golf courses during his illustrious career and was voted Specialist Sports Photographer of the Year by Sport England an unprecedented three times.
In 2004, he was the first recipient of the Lawrence Levy Lifetime Achievement Award, to honour outstanding work in golf photography, presented in conjunction with Golf International magazine.
His dramatic shot of Paul McGinley’’s winning putt in The 2002 Ryder Cup took first place in Golf World’’s ‘Golf’’s Greatest Photos’’ roll of honour, and that wonderful picture is included in Phil’’s last book, ‘Golfing Days’’ which was published last year.
The book’’s foreward was written by broadcaster, Peter Alliss, BBC TV’’s velvet voice behind the microphone, who wrote: “Phil Sheldon is a tremendous photographer, has an engaging personality and is a real professional. He is one of a special breed of sporting photographers who concentrates his considerable talents on the wonderful world of golf.”
Phil leaves his wife, Gill, and sons Jack (12) and Alfie (6). Gill has requested no phone calls at this time.
The funeral will be held at 2pm on Tuesday, June 28 at St John The Baptist Church, Wood Street, High Barnet, London. Family flowers only.
Any friends wishing to make a donation to the North London Hospice, please see
www.northlondonhospice.co.uk
for further information.
