European Tour ‘founding father’ & 2-time Ryder Cup skipper John Jacobs dies aged 91
Sport pays tribute to Yorkshire-born golfing giant who helped transform the game and became a PGA tournament chief
GOLF is paying tribute to legend John Jacobs after the 'founding father' of the European Tour and two-time European Ryder Cup captain died aged 91.
The Yorkshireman was a leading player who later helped transform the modern game with his coaching methods and as a PGA chief in the 1970s.
European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: "This is an extremely sad day for everyone connected with the European Tour and our thoughts and prayers go out to John's family and his many friends across the world of golf.
Keep up to date with ALL the golf news, gossip and transfers on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary
"It is an honour to hold the role as the fourth chief executive in the history of the European Tour and I never felt that more than when I had the privilege to spend several hours with John at his beautiful home in the New Forest last year.
"His memory for the details around the creation of the Tour were incredible and, quite simply, without his vision and determination, the European Tour we know today wouldn't exist. He was an esteemed businessman and a world renowned golf coach but above all that, a true gentleman.
"There was no-one like him and he will be sadly missed."
Woodsetts-born Jacobs skippered the Ryder Cup's first two combined European teams, in 1979 and 1981.
But his status as a golfing innovator began decades earlier.
In 1954, he led the calls then for the modernisation of the game, to include an increase and better distribution of prize funds.
And he became tournament director-general of the PGA Executive Committee in October 1971.
Jacobs went on to establish a 'Continental Swing' which embraced the French, German and Spanish Opens, with the latter becoming the first official European Tour event at Pals Golf Club in Girona in April 1972.
Apart from revitalising the professional game, Jacobs influenced generations of golfers through his coaching.
Paul McGinley, the 2014 European Ryder Cup captain, said: "He is a man I have known and respected throughout my career, not just as a pioneer in golf coaching but as a godfather to the European Tour and Ryder Cup."
And Ken Schofield, who replaced Jacobs at the helm of fledgling European Tour, described Jacobs as "a great man - a giant in the game of golf".
Schofield added: "A champion and a Ryder Cup player in his own right, but John will be defined as one of the great coaches of our time - through his teaching of the game at all levels and in all corners of the globe.
"For ourselves at the European Tour it is suffice to say that, as the Tour's Founding Father, he was chosen by his peers to set everything up - which he did brilliantly, inspiring everybody who cares for the tournament game.
"We will miss him but his indelible link will remain large."
European Tour chairman David Williams said: "John Jacobs was a visionary and an exceptional human being who was a true Founding Father of today's European Tour.
"We will guard his legacy and we have much to live up to."
Veteran BBC golf commentator Peter Alliss hailed Jacobs as "ahead of his time and was a huge figure in the world of golf".
RELATED STORIES
Alliss added: "Today, he would be an absolute giant if you were talking about the same sort of position now to 40 years ago.
"He did everything and he had everything - he was a good-looking man, he had charisma, he could speak, he had ideas, he listened and he was a huge asset to the European Tour.
"He and Ken Schofield worked well together and between them, laid the foundations for the successful business the Tour is today. He will be sadly missed."
Jacob's impact was also praised by current stars.
Current stars tool to social media to pay their own tributes.
Sweden's Thomas Bjorn, who will lead the 2018 European Ryder Cup team, tweeted: "RIP John Jacobs. One of the finest men I ever met. Thank you for everything you did for our wonderful game! #openthedoorclosethedoor"
England's Ian Poulter wrote: "Sorry and sad to see the news of #JohnJacobs.. #RIP thank you for everything you did for the game of Golf."