Monty to enter Hall of Fame

Last updated: 18th December 2012

Colin Montgomerie and Ken Schofield will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum next year.

The duo, along with Fred Couples, Willie Park Jnr and Ken Venturi, are being honoured for their contribution to the game with the ceremony taking place at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on May 6, 2013 at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida.

Montgomerie is elected through the International Ballot while Schofield is selected through the Lifetime Achievement Category.

The announcement was made by George O'Grady, European Tour Chief Executive, and Jack Peter, Hall of Fame Chief Operating Officer, prior to The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year Luncheon in London.

"Colin's achievement in winning the Harry Vardon Trophy eight times, including seven in a row, took considerable talent, skill, imagination, endurance, physical strength and mental resilience," O'Grady said.

"Any aspiring and ambitious golfer on The European Tour today craves the opportunity to win The Race to Dubai, which has succeeded the Order of Merit, just once - to do it eight times is universally viewed as a superhuman feat.

"Colin became European Number One for the eighth time in 2005 which, coincidentally, was the year I succeeded Ken. Unquestionably, Ken's contribution to The European Tour is incalculable.

"His vision, passion and reservoir of knowledge established the foundations that we enjoy today and, like Colin, he has enthusiastically supported and taken enormous joy from Europe's recent triumphs in The Ryder Cup."

Montgomerie finished as world number one seven times in succession from 1993 and he has won 31 European Tour titles - a record by a British player - and 40 tournaments worldwide.

"It is a wonderful surprise to hear that I will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame next year. I know I am very fortunate to have enjoyed such a successful career playing the game I love and it makes me feel very proud that my achievements have been recognised in this way," the 49-year-old said.

"While my eight Order of Merit wins were very special, as everyone knows my Ryder Cup experiences have provided the very best moments in my career and receiving this great honour is the icing on the cake.

"I am delighted that my dear friend Ken Schofield's notable contribution to European golf will also be recognised at next year's ceremony and I look forward to sharing this special occasion with him."

Schofield became First Secretary and Executive Director of The European Tour on January 1, 1975, and he helped the Tour to grow from 17 official events to 45.

"I am delighted not just for myself but also for The European Tour. This is an honour for absolutely everyone who in the last 40 years helped the Tour become what it is today," said Schofield, who retired in 2004.

"For me it is quite unexpected and I am both delighted and humbled that I should be given a place in the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum in the company of so many great names who have together contributed to making the game of golf so special in our lives."