LUKE DONALD AWARDED HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP OF EUROPEAN TOUR

 George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, presents the silver engraved Honorary Life Membership card to Luke Donald. Picture by courtesy ©Getty Images

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Luke Donald has been awarded Honorary Life Membership of The European Tour in recognition of his outstanding achievements during a record-breaking 2011 season.

The Englishman became the first player to head the money lists on both The European Tour and the US PGA Tour in the same season  - topping The Race to Dubai with record earnings of €5,323,400 – and reached World Number One for the first time, a position he held for the majority of the year.

His elevation to the pinnacle of the Official World Golf Ranking came as a result of his thrilling victory in the BMW PGA Championship 12 months ago, and it was at Wentworth Club, where Donald launches his defence of the title tomorrow, that European Tour Chief Executive George O’Grady awarded him with a silver engraved Honorary Life Membership card.

O’Grady said: “Luke’s achievements in 2011 were quite extraordinary. To reach the Number One position in the world last May in such dramatic circumstances at Wentworth was one thing, but to follow that up with another superb victory in the Scottish Open on his way to winning The Race to Dubai and the US PGA Tour Money List was deeply impressive.

“Luke’s record in 2011 speaks volumes for his consistent high standard of play during the whole year and it is a great privilege to honour him in this very special way with this Honorary Life Membership, the highest award we as a Tour can bestow.”

On receiving the Honorary Life Membership card, Donald said: “This is special.  As I said at the Players’ Awards dinner last night, it is very inspiring what The European Tour has done in the last few years, and it's nice to be mentioned in the same breath as some of the greats that have played this Tour, and this is very special.  This means a lot, and I really thank you for it.”