Tony Jacklin

TONY JACKLIN is widely recognized as the man who helped reestablish European competitiveness in the Ryder Cup Matches when he brought the cup back to Europe in 1985 after a 28 year absence. Jacklin grew up in a working class family in Scunthorpe, England. Trained as a steel worker who would practice golf on his lunch hour and after work, he left his trade in 1962 to become an assistant golf pro at a local golf club. Under the guidance of Bill Shankland, Jacklin emerged from a baptism of fire to become an accomplished professional. In his career he has won 24 tournaments worldwide, including two major championships. When Jacklin won the Open in 1969 and the US Open in 1970, he became a national celebrity. He was the first person to hold both titles simultaneously. Furthermore no British player had won the US Open in over 70 years. In 1987, he captained the Ryder Cup team which won on American soil for the first time. He cites beating the Americans as a joy in itself. Today, Jacklin lives in Florida and competes on the US Seniors tour.