World Golf Hall of Fame announces Class of 2011

ATLANTA – Past PGA Champions Jock Hutchison and Doug Ford, along with Ernie Els and former President George H.W. Bush, are the newest inductees to be enshrined in the World Golf Hall of Fame. The foursome – joined by a fifth inductee who will be announced in October – will be inducted May 9, 2011, at the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum near St. Augustine, Fla. Els was elected with 66 percent of the vote on the PGA Tour Ballot (complete results listed below). Ford and Hutchison were selected in the Veterans Category and President Bush in the Lifetime Achievement Category. PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, who was present Wednesday for the announcement, said: “Each of the inductees richly deserves of this honor and on behalf of the World Golf Foundation Board, I look forward to welcoming them into the Hall of Fame next May. “Ernie has compiled an extraordinarily successful international career and continues to compete at the highest level. It’s terrific that Doug Ford and Jock Hutchison’s careers will be highlighted in this way as both enjoyed great success in their professional careers. And, President Bush has been and continues to be a great friend to the game of golf; he’s a terrific addition to the Hall.” “We couldn’t be more pleased with the Class of 2011,” said Jack Peter, chief operating officer of the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum. “Our mission is global in scope and this year’s class certainly reflects the global character of the game and those who have competed and contributed to it for so many years. The 2011 Induction Ceremony will be a grand celebration of golf around the world and we look forward to welcoming this class into the Hall of Fame & Museum and sharing their stories with golf fans for years to come.” Els won the 1994 and 1997 U.S. Open Championships and the 2002 Open Championship. He has 15 additional PGA Tour victories, including two World Golf Championship events, and more than 40 international victories, many of which he won in his native South Africa and others in Europe and Australia. He is currently ranked eighth in the FedExCup and holds the fourth position in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai. He is a six-time member of the International Team for The Presidents Cup. “I was shocked and extremely honored when the call came through from Commissioner Finchem to say that I was to be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” Els said. “I would like to thank all those who have helped make this possible, not least my family whose support has never wavered. There are too many others to mention by name, but they know who they are and can be assured of my eternal gratitude. Also to those who saw fit to believe I was worthy of a place among those who have been previously honored, I say a big thank you." Born in West Haven, Conn., Ford captured 19 PGA Tour victories including the 1955 PGA Championship and the 1957 Masters Tournament. He was named the 1955 PGA of America Player of the Year, which also marked the first of his four Ryder Cup appearances. “It is an honor and a privilege to be named to the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum,” said Ford. “It took a little while, but I think it’s great they’re doing this while I’m still alive. It is an honor of which I am deeply proud.” A native of St. Andrews, Scotland, Hutchison, who died in 1977 at age 93, won 14 PGA Tour events including the 1920 PGA Championship, 1921 Open Championship and the 1920 and 1923 Western Opens. His victory in 1921 on the Old Course at his home of St. Andrews made him the first U.S. citizen to capture the Open Championship. The victory was highlighted by a first-round hole-in-one and capped by a 36-hole playoff victory over Roger Wethered. Hutchison also captured the inaugural Senior PGA Championship in 1937, and again in 1947. Hutchison concluded his career as the PGA head professional from 1918 to 1953 at Glen View Club in Golf, Ill. He served as the first honorary starter at The Masters (along with former Senior PGA Champion Fred McLeod) from 1963 to 1973. President Bush helped raise the profile of the sport of golf considerably both during and after his Presidential administration. He has been recognized by the golf community over the years, including receiving the 1997 PGA of America Distinguished Service Award, the USGA’s 2008 Bob Jones Award and the 2009 PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1996, President Bush served as honorary chairman of The Presidents Cup and has since attended every Presidents Cup. He is an honorary member of The PGA of America; honorary chair of the USGA Museum and Archives President’s council and has served as honorary chairman of The First Tee since 1997. “I am deeply honored to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame,” President Bush said. “I would like to thank PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem and the World Golf Foundation Board of Directors for everything they do to support the traditions of golf. I wish everyone gathered here today all the best.” The World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum’s Induction Ceremony is set for Monday, May 9, 2011, at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida. For information about the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum, or the 2011 Induction Ceremony, visit www.WorldGolfHallofFame.org. Class of 2011 PGA Tour Ballot Results Candidate Voting Results (percentage) Ernie Els 66 Doug Ford 50 Fred Couples 32 Mark O'Meara 29 Davis Love III 27 Macdonald Smith 23 Ken Venturi 20 Fuzzy Zoeller 18 Tony Lema 14 Dave Stockton 12 Don January 10 Miller Barber 9 Harold (Jug) McSpaden 7 Kenny Perry 2 Jay Haas 2 About World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum The World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum honors the history of golf by recognizing and preserving the legacies of the game’s greatest players and contributors. The Hall of Fame and Museum, located at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., serves as a steward of the game through engaging, interactive storytelling and exhibitions featuring artifacts, works of art, audio, video and photography significant to the history of golf and its members. The Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 non-profit institution and is allied with 26 national and international golf organizations, including The European Tour, LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, The R&A and USGA. To learn more about the Hall of Fame or to lend support, visit www.WorldGolfHallofFame.org. # # # As the Founding Partner of the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum and World Golf Village, Shell Oil Company played a lead role in supporting the development and growth of the institution, which opened in 1998. Since then, their continued involvement has led the way for others to join in support of the Hall of Fame & Museum’s mission.