St Andrews, Scotland: Three of golf’s great champions have accepted invitations to become Honorary Members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
With 20 Major championship victories between them, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Paul Lawrie have enjoyed highly successful careers, been hugely influential in supporting and inspiring future generations of golfers, and served as outstanding global ambassadors for the sport.
Woods is one of the most recognisable and successful athletes of all time. After an excellent amateur career, in which he won the US Amateur three times, Woods turned professional in 1996, and went on to win 15 Major championships, including The Open on three occasions, in 2000, 2005 and 2006.
His 82 victories on the PGA Tour are equalled only by Sam Snead. He won the Masters Tournament for the fifth time in 2019 at the age of 43 after recovering from back surgery and has recently returned again to professional golf after sustaining severe injuries in a car accident.
Woods holds the record for the most weeks (683) ranked number one in the world. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019 and inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2021.
Woods said: “I am grateful for this invitation to become an Honorary Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. It is not only the home of golf but a place in this world that I hold near my heart.
“I am humbled to accept this invitation alongside these outstanding players, as well as those who came before us.”
A four-time Major champion, McIlroy won The Open at Royal Liverpool in 2014 and has achieved 33 professional wins around the world. The former world number one has been a stalwart of the European Ryder Cup team, making six appearances, and has achieved a host of distinctions on the PGA Tour, including leading the money list in 2012 and 2014 and winning the FedEx Cup in 2016 and 2019.
After a successful amateur career, representing Great Britain and Ireland in the 2007 Walker Cup match and Ireland in the 2006 Eisenhower Trophy, McIlroy went on to win the then European Tour’s Race to Dubai in 2012, 2014 and 2015. He was made an MBE in 2012 for services to golf.
“I’m thrilled to become an Honorary Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club. It’s a privilege to represent a club that has done so much for golf over so many years and I’m proud to play my part in promoting golf around the world,” said McIlroy.
Lawrie has been one of European golf’s most successful players over the last 35 years and became Champion Golfer of the Year after coming from 10 shots behind to win in a dramatic Open at Carnoustie in 1999.
“I’m delighted to receive Honorary Membership of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, particularly on the historic occasion of The 150th Open. The Club has supported the development of the sport since its formation and continues to do so today. I’m honoured to accept this invitation and to do that alongside Rory and Tiger is extra special,” said Lawrie, who has achieved eight DP World Tour victories and represented Europe in the Ryder Cup in 1999 and 2012 before serving as vice-captain in the 2016 match.
Lawrie played in 620 events before moving on to the Senior Tour in 2020. To date he’s won twice on the Senior circuit and is heavily involved in supporting junior golf through his foundation. He was made an MBE in 2000 and an OBE in 2013 for services to golf.
Peter Forster, Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, said: “I warmly congratulate Tiger, Rory and Paul on becoming Honorary Members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club.
“They have each made huge contributions to golf and played their part in inspiring millions to take up and follow the sport around the world. They are not only great champions but fantastic ambassadors for golf and have brought so much joy to so many young fans in particular.
“This is entirely fitting recognition for three such distinguished sporting figures and I have no doubt they will continue to give exemplary service to the sport through their new roles in the Club.”