European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald to Receive MGWA Gold Tee Award

Elmsford, NY (July 8, 2024) — Former world No. 1 golfer, four-time European Ryder Cup player and two-time (including next year) European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald will be honored with the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association’s premier recognition -- the Gold Tee Award.  The presentation will take place at the MGWA’s 72nd National Awards Dinner on Monday, October 7, 2024 at Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, New York.

The MGWA’s highest honor, the Gold Tee Award is presented annually to an individual whose career achievements exemplify the best spirit and traditions of the sport of golf.   Past Gold Tee Award Honorees include Jack Nicklaus (1967), Arnold Palmer (1965) and Nancy Lopez (1995), along with more recent recipients Butch Harmon (2020/21), Dottie Pepper (2022) and Larry Nelson (2023). 

Born in Hertfordshire, England, Luke Donald grew up playing golf, winning his first club championship at Beaconsfield Golf Club at just 15 years old.  His brother Christian, also a junior golfer, caddied for Luke during this time. 

Donald received a golf scholarship from Northwestern University, winning the NCAA Division 1 Men's Golf Championships title in 1999, beating the scoring record that had previously been held by Tiger Woods. The following year he became the first amateur to win the Chicago Open. 

After turning professional in 2001 and earning his Tour card the following year, Donald became just the 11^th player in PGA Tour history to earn over $1 million in his rookie season.  Highlights of his subsequent seasons included winning the Ryder Cup as a player on the European team (2004) and finishing third in both his first Masters tournament (2005) and the PGA Championship (2006).  He was also honored to play alongside Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson in the final two rounds of Jack’s career at the Open Championship at the Old Course in St. Andrews (2005). Donald really caught fire in 2011, when he became the world's No. 1 golfer. That same year he also topped the PGA Tour money list, won the Vardon Trophy and the Byron Nelson Award and was named both the PGA and PGA Tour Player of the Year. In all, Luke Donald spent a total of 56 weeks as the world's top-ranked golfer. To date, only seven golfers have spent more time at the No. 1 spot.

"Luke has always been a credit to our game.  It is rare to have such incredible success as a player, and also possess the qualities of an outstanding leader,” said MGWA President Brian Crowell. He continued, “Captaining Team Europe to victory in the 2023 Ryder Cup is certainly a highlight in his illustrious career, but there are many more highlights to come.  Luke is a tremendous ambassador for golf, and we’re proud to add his name to a legendary list of MGWA Gold Tee Award winners.”

The MGWA has celebrated the game of golf and promoted golf journalism since its inception in 1952, and its National Awards Dinner has been one of the highlights of the golf calendar since then.  It has honored – and been attended by – some of the  greatest names in the sport: Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, JoAnne Carner, Gary Player, Billy Casper, Nancy Lopez, Tom Watson and Annika Sorenstam, to name just a few.  This highly anticipated event is supported by golf’s leading organizations and corporate supporters, Met Area clubs and club leaders, as well as local and national golf media. Through the Dinner and other events, the MGWA has raised millions of dollars for Caddie Scholarship programs in the Metropolitan New York area, the MGA Foundation, and the Dave Marr Journalism Scholarship. 

Click here to purchase tickets to the Dinner.  For more information, view this one-minute video or contact Robin Sauerhaft, MGWA Executive Administrator, at: rsauerhaft@mgagolf.org.