World renowned golfers to receive honorary degrees

Two of the world’s most successful golfers are to receive honorary degrees from the University of St Andrews.

Seve Ballesteros and Colin Montgomerie will both receive a Doctor of Laws degree at a graduation ceremony in the University’s Younger Hall on the afternoon of 18 July 2000.

Acting Principal of the University Professor Colin Vincent said, “The University will be delighted to confer degrees upon Colin Montgomerie and Seve Ballesteros who have undoubtedly made a tremendous contribution to golf and to St Andrews as the “Home of Golf”. It is of course particularly appropriate to honour their achievements during the Millennium Open”.

Seve Ballesteros has been the leading European professional golfer in the last quarter of the 20th Century. Three times the winner of the Open Championship, including St Andrews in 1984, and twice victorious in the US Masters Championship, he was the charismatic presence behind the European revival in the Ryder Cup, culminating in his winning captaincy in Spain in 1997.

Meanwhile, 36-year old Glasgwegian Colin Montgomerie won an unprecedented seventh successive European Order of Merit title, being voted European Tour’s golfer of the year for the fourth time. With five Ryder Cup appearances against the US, he was unbeaten in the 1999 Cup and has never lost a singles match in that competition. Colin Montgomerie was also awarded the MBE in 1998.

The University conferred honorary degrees upon Jack Nicklaus in 1984 and Gary Player in 1995.

A limited number of tickets for the graduation ceremony will be available from 12 June 2000. Please contact the University of St Andrews Events Office for further information (telephone 01334 462161).

ENDS

Issued by Beattie Media on behalf of the University of St Andrews For more information please contact Claire Grainger on 01334 462530, 07887 650072 or email [email protected] or the Events office on 01334 462161 or [email protected] Ref: golfersdegrees/standrews/18may200