By Ken Schofield CBE, Executive Director of The European Tour
The 2001 European Tour International Schedule represents a significant milestone in the history of the Tour, this being the 30th anniversary of the launch of a fledgling organisation which has grown and matured beyond all recognition since that inaugural season in 1972.
It seems hard to believe that three decades have elapsed since John Jacobs, the founding father of The European Tour, took office as Tournament Director General of the PGA, decreeing a minimum tournament prize fund of £8,000 as the Tour took its first steps towards the International Schedule of quality and quantity which has been attained in recent years.
The continued development of European Tour prize funds is an essential constituent if the Tour is to thrive, and if the significant progress made during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s is to be maintained during this first decade of the new millennium.
The rate at which the Tour has advanced in the past 30 years is, indeed, quite remarkable: from 24 events and prize money of 518,770 euro (£370,550) in 1972 to 44 Volvo Order of Merit tournaments and a record 85,300,405 euro (£50,730,266) on the 2000 European Tour International Schedule.
So far, a total of 48 tournaments in 24 countries have so far been allocated for the 2001 European Tour International Schedule and in total the European Tour, the European Seniors Tour and the European Challenge Tour will visit a minimum of 37 countries on every continent.
This is orderly progress, year by year, as it has been since 1975. We've gone forward, yes, and we are delighted, of course, to be playing so many tournaments in a myriad of countries all over the globe. We had 35 host nations on the European Tour International Schedule in 2000, when including the Seniors Tour and Challenge Tour in addition to the main Tour.
We will progress, year by year, with the involvement of our global partners in the Southern Hemisphere Tours which have become part of our scheduling since 1994. This involvement is growing within Asia, and, indeed, is continuing to play a full part in the International Federation of PGA Tours, offering competition at the elite end of the game.
It seems appropriate that, on the threshold of celebrating the 30th birthday of what has become The European Tour as we know it, the aforementioned John Jacobs was one of three European golfing luminaries inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
John, along with Neil Coles, Chairman of the Board of Directors of The European Tour and Sir Michael Bonallack, retired secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and recently appointed to the Tour's Board as a Non-Executive Director, follow the respective 1998 and 1999 inductions of Nick Faldo and Severiano Ballesteros.
It was a great honour and privilege to be part of the ceremony in Florida last November as all three were inducted. John's contribution to The European Tour is incalculable while Neil created a piece of history last season by becoming the first player to win a tournament in six separate decades and, in the process, completing the entire season without a single round higher than 74. A truly outstanding achievement.
The challenge for The European Tour, as we celebrate 30 seasons, is to maintain the rate of progress and re-assess all priorities for what is a wonderfully diverse Membership.
We now enjoy greater strength in depth, as evidenced by a succession of wonderful results in the Major Championships and World Golf Championships. We look forward to more of our Members competing in and contending for the biggest titles in world golf during the coming 12 months.
It promises to be another outstanding year ahead with the prospect of Europe hosting the United States at The De Vere Belfry in September, an event certain to provide golf with an unprecedented worldwide focus and audience. We take this opportunity to extend good wishes to both Sam and Curtis and their respective teams.
