John Jacobs
March 14, 1925 – January 13, 2017
World Golf Hall of Fame Member John Jacobs has passed away at the age of 91. Born in Yorkshire, England, Jacobs grew up on the golf course and became the driving force behind the development of the European Tour.
A successful golfer in his own right, having won both of his matches in the 1955 Ryder Cup, and winning the Dutch Open and the South African Match Play Championship, he then turned his energy to coaching and administration.
In 1971, Jacobs was instrumental in separating the teaching and playing professionals and in forming the European Tour. As such, he was appointed the first Tournament Director-General of the European Tour. He successfully raised the profile of the tour by bringing in additional European tournaments and increasing prize money.
“John has quite properly been defined as the father of the European Tour, and the Tour owes its success to him,” said fellow World Golf Hall of Fame Member Ken Schofield, who succeeded Jacobs as Executive Director of the European Tour in 1975.
Jacobs then set his sights on teaching after retiring from Tour management. He said, “I ever so much wanted to be the best player that ever was. I realized that I taught it better than I played it.”
His leadership was rewarded when he became the first Captain of the newly formed European Ryder Cup teams in 1979 and 1981.
John Jacobs – player, teacher, innovator, coach, administrator and World Golf Hall of Fame Member – has left an indelible mark on the game of golf. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will forever live on in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Written by Dr. Tony Parker, World Golf Hall of Fame Historian
