Dec. 18, 2004 – Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie, the seven-time winner of The European Tour Order of Merit, has received a special award from the Professional Golfers’ Association for his outstanding contribution to the sport. The 41 year old Scot was honored at the PGA’s annual benevolent fund-raising luncheon at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Montgomerie, who holed the winning putt for Europe in The 35th Ryder Cup Matches in September, follows in the footsteps of last year’s inaugural recipient, Nick Faldo, in being awarded the PGA Recognition Award for outstanding services to golf.

Montgomerie is being recognized for a glittering career that has brought him 28 tournament victories on The European Tour International Schedule; seven consecutive European Tour Order of Merits from 1993-1999 and seven Ryder Cup appearances including, most recently, at Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan, where he helped Europe to their record triumph.

Away from the fairways Montgomerie has proved a tireless worker for countless charitable and junior programs.

PGA Chief Executive Sandy Jones said: “Colin has proved one of his generation’s most recognizable and endearing sports stars and is a true statesman of golf.”

Also recognized at the lunch was The European Tour’s outgoing Executive Director, Ken Schofield, who is stepping down at the end of this month after 30 years at the helm.