In the first part of a wide-ranging interview to mark The European Tour’s 40th anniversary next month, founding-father John Jacobs OBE reflects on how his legacy is remembered on the European Senior Tour.
When Peter Fowler lifted the John Jacobs Trophy at the European Senior Tour’s season-ending MCB Tour Championship last December he became the 12th different player to have his name inscribed on an award that celebrates the founding-father of The European Tour.
John Jacobs, a successful professional and Ryder Cup player in his own right, was the Tournament Director General of The European Tour at its inception in 1972 and played a central role in the formation of what has gone on to become a globally recognised enterprise.
When the Senior Tour was subsequently formed 20 years later in 1992, it was decided to honour the contribution of Jacobs to The European Tour group by inaugurating a trophy in his name that would be presented each season to the leading player on the Senior Tour Order of Merit.
Since South African John Fourie became the first player to hold aloft the glass vase, some of golf’s greatest names have also received the prestigious prize including five-time winner Tommy Horton, Carl Mason and Sam Torrance, who have both won it on three occasions, and 1991 Masters
Tournament Champion Ian Woosnam, who in 2008 became the first former European Tour Order of Merit winner to top the Senior Tour money list.
In the majority of instances over the past 21 seasons, Jacobs has been there in person to present the award that bears his name and at the age of 86, he retains a sense of pride – albeit modestly – about being immortalised in such a fashion.
“When I was asked to give my name to the trophy I was honoured and delighted to,” said Jacobs. “Some of the boys are very kind about it when they win and say it’s special to win a trophy with the name John Jacobs on, but I would never want to take any credit for where the Senior Tour has got to and how far it has come.
“I’m thrilled to be associated with it and some of the people there are great friends of mine. I used to say they were members of my generation, but I’m getting well passed all that now. It’s a whole other generation below me now which is frankly ridiculous!
“I enjoy the Senior Tour ever so much, as it is now very much an international tour. I have always enjoyed going out to present the trophy and getting to see some old friends, but unfortunately the last couple of years I’ve not been able to go as I’ve been unplayable – the original two-shot penalty.”
Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000, Jacobs was the first person to captain a continental European Team in The Ryder Cup, taking charge against the United States at The Greenbrier in 1979 and again at Walton Heath in 1981. The Englishman has also been revered as one of the game’s great coaches, and he has enjoyed following the fortunes of players on the Senior Tour who have benefited from his unique expertise.
When Peter Fowler lifted the John Jacobs Trophy at the European Senior Tour’s season-ending MCB Tour Championship last December he became the 12th different player to have his name inscribed on an award that celebrates the founding-father of The European Tour.
John Jacobs, a successful professional and Ryder Cup player in his own right, was the Tournament Director General of The European Tour at its inception in 1972 and played a central role in the formation of what has gone on to become a globally recognised enterprise.
When the Senior Tour was subsequently formed 20 years later in 1992, it was decided to honour the contribution of Jacobs to The European Tour group by inaugurating a trophy in his name that would be presented each season to the leading player on the Senior Tour Order of Merit.
Since South African John Fourie became the first player to hold aloft the glass vase, some of golf’s greatest names have also received the prestigious prize including five-time winner Tommy Horton, Carl Mason and Sam Torrance, who have both won it on three occasions, and 1991 Masters
Tournament Champion Ian Woosnam, who in 2008 became the first former European Tour Order of Merit winner to top the Senior Tour money list.
In the majority of instances over the past 21 seasons, Jacobs has been there in person to present the award that bears his name and at the age of 86, he retains a sense of pride – albeit modestly – about being immortalised in such a fashion.
“When I was asked to give my name to the trophy I was honoured and delighted to,” said Jacobs. “Some of the boys are very kind about it when they win and say it’s special to win a trophy with the name John Jacobs on, but I would never want to take any credit for where the Senior Tour has got to and how far it has come.
“I’m thrilled to be associated with it and some of the people there are great friends of mine. I used to say they were members of my generation, but I’m getting well passed all that now. It’s a whole other generation below me now which is frankly ridiculous!
“I enjoy the Senior Tour ever so much, as it is now very much an international tour. I have always enjoyed going out to present the trophy and getting to see some old friends, but unfortunately the last couple of years I’ve not been able to go as I’ve been unplayable – the original two-shot penalty.”
Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000, Jacobs was the first person to captain a continental European Team in The Ryder Cup, taking charge against the United States at The Greenbrier in 1979 and again at Walton Heath in 1981. The Englishman has also been revered as one of the game’s great coaches, and he has enjoyed following the fortunes of players on the Senior Tour who have benefited from his unique expertise.
“There are some great players on the Senior Tour now in their 50s and 60s still playing incredibly well, and I think that can only be good for golf,” said Jacobs.
“I would say, in my opinion, if you have looked after yourself, I don’t think the physical side diminishes after you turn 50 years old. I don’t think there is any fall-off in physique so there’s no reason why players now, and even more in the future, won’t be able to play very well for even longer.
“In a way, though, that is why I sometimes feel so furious that in some ways – now I am even older – I can’t teach like I used to, to demonstrate and so on. Although I can’t still do it myself, I can still sit back and listen, watch and instruct. It’s nice to be able to help people, and it means a lot to me that top players still come to me for advice.”
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said: “It is only fitting that the name of John Jacobs is recognised through the Senior Tour trophy, earned for winning the Order of Merit, given his unparalleled role in the formation of The European Tour Group.
“John was integral to the Tour’s inception in the early 1970s and as a coach he has been a major influence on many of the players currently playing on the Senior Tour, including Carl Mason, Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam, who have all recently won the trophy bearing his name.
“His abilities as a coach are legendary, and even in his 80s he continues to work with players on The European Tour, such as José María Olazábal and Paul McGinley.
“John is extremely humble and modest about his contribution to the both the game and The European Tour, but our trophy is one way of ensuring that his legacy is rightly appreciated and acknowledged.”
“I would say, in my opinion, if you have looked after yourself, I don’t think the physical side diminishes after you turn 50 years old. I don’t think there is any fall-off in physique so there’s no reason why players now, and even more in the future, won’t be able to play very well for even longer.
“In a way, though, that is why I sometimes feel so furious that in some ways – now I am even older – I can’t teach like I used to, to demonstrate and so on. Although I can’t still do it myself, I can still sit back and listen, watch and instruct. It’s nice to be able to help people, and it means a lot to me that top players still come to me for advice.”
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said: “It is only fitting that the name of John Jacobs is recognised through the Senior Tour trophy, earned for winning the Order of Merit, given his unparalleled role in the formation of The European Tour Group.
“John was integral to the Tour’s inception in the early 1970s and as a coach he has been a major influence on many of the players currently playing on the Senior Tour, including Carl Mason, Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam, who have all recently won the trophy bearing his name.
“His abilities as a coach are legendary, and even in his 80s he continues to work with players on The European Tour, such as José María Olazábal and Paul McGinley.
“John is extremely humble and modest about his contribution to the both the game and The European Tour, but our trophy is one way of ensuring that his legacy is rightly appreciated and acknowledged.”
