Jacobs New Pres. Of Europe PGA

John Jacobs OBE, the founding father of the European Tour, has been named president of the PGA of Europe.

In 1971, Jacobs became the first tournament director general of the PGA. As director general, it was Jacobs who championed the spread of golf from Great Britain and Ireland onto the continent of Europe.

Jacobs is also well known for his unique teaching methods and as the long-time coach of many European national teams. In the U.S.A., some 18,000 pupils have attended the John Jacobs Golf Schools, where the staff continues to utilize his methods.

In 1997, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire in the Queens Birthday Honours list in recognition of 50 years of outstanding service to golf.

John Jacobs, or "JJ" as he is widely known, was one of the PGA of Europe Professionals of the Year in 1996 and has been a keynote speaker at all four of the PGA of Europe's Teaching and Coaching Conferences. Additionally, he was the key lecturer at the PGA of Europe's advanced coaches MasterClass held in Spain in 1997.

John Jacobs has coached and assisted a great number of top professionals during his career. He taught Bernard Gallacher as a 14 year old, helped José Maria Olazábal sort out his swing on the eve of his Masters victory and earlier this month was on hand for those about to embark on a career on the European Tour at MacGregor Week, the European Tour's Training Week.

He succeeds the late Christer Lindberg as President of the PGA of Europe.