Online collection of iconic golf images launched

Celebrated golf photographer’s Masters work online for the first time

An online gallery of 6,000 photographs from one of the world’s most iconic golf tournaments, The Masters, which takes place this week (9-12 April 2015), is being launched by the University of St Andrews.

The Masters collection makes available images taken between 1981 and 1993 by renowned golf photographer Lawrence Levy, and includes some images never before seen by the public.

Collection cataloguer Trevor Ledger said: “The collection is huge and the task we have undertaken is a long-haul affair.  So far we have uploaded over 200,000 images, including around 6,000 photographs from The Masters.

“One of Lawrence’s great skills was to capture the mood of the event and provide a window into the lives of the golfers, the staff and the gallery.  Every time I open a file of slides I know there will be something that grabs my attention and opens my eyes yet further.”

Levy captured numerous iconic moments during his career photographing The Masters, including Sandy Lyle’s famous bunker shot in 1988, Jack Nicklaus’ dramatic comeback in 1986 and Larry Mize defeating Greg Norman with a memorable chip-in for his play-off win in 1987.

The collection is part of the ongoing work by the University’s library and Special Collections unit to digitise its collection of Levy’s photographs, donated by the Joseph Levy Foundation. Of the 250,000 photographs in the collection; over 10,000 are today available online, including over 1,500 photographs published online last year ahead of the Ryder Cup.

Ledger said: “Accessibility and inclusivity are part of the ethos of the university’s Special Collections division, and we want our photographs to be open and accessible for all. Publishing further Lawrence Levy images on the eve of the tournament that they portray help us to raise awareness of the incredible resource that we have to offer.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Lawrence Levy

Lawrence Levy devoted the last 20 years of his life to photography, before succumbing to cancer at the age of 47. His love of golf is evident in his photographic work, and he became close friends with the likes of Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros, allowing him to capture them in natural, relaxed environments.

Levy was also a committed humanitarian, establishing and contributing to a number of charitable funds and events including the Lawrence Levy British Blind Golfers Masters tournament, the Cystic Fibrosis Holiday Fund, and the Chicken Shed Theatre Company for handicapped children.

About the photographic collection

To view the gallery, visit the University of St Andrews Special Collections online library here – http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/imu/imu.php?request=collection&irn=7406137

A selection of photographs are available from the University of St Andrews Communications Office. Contact Corporate Communications on [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> or on 01334 462530.

Photos available to licence through the University of St Andrews Special Collections online library here – http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/library/specialcollections.