Bob Charles awarded lifetime award

New Zealand's Bob Charles is the latest recipient of the European Seniors Tour's Lladro Lifetime Achievement Award.

The former Open Champion was presented with the award by Ken Schofield, Executive Director of The European Tour.

Charles, the fifth recipient of the award after Neil Coles, Tommy Horton, Brian Huggett and Gary Player, received it in recognition of his achievements during a spectacular professional career that spans four decades.

The left-hander won his first professional title as an amateur when he claimed the 1954 New Zealand Open and has since gone on to win more than 50 other titles around the world, including the 1963 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes where he defeated America's Phil Rodgers in a play-off.

Charles, who turned 50 in 1986, has, since then, gone on to win two Senior British Opens and a total of 24 titles on the US Senior Tour.

He was awarded an OBE in 1972 and a CBE in 1982 before becoming a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 1999 New Year's Honour List.

"Bob is a thoroughly deserving recipient of the Lladro Lifetime Achievement Award," said Schofield. "For more than four decades he has enjoyed a hugely successful career all over the world and in all that time he has been a tremendous ambassador for the game of golf.

Charles was surprised but delighted to receive the award.

"This is a great honour and a wonderful gesture for the European Seniors Tour to make," he said.

"When I came here this evening I had no idea I would be receiving this award, but I can assure you it means a great deal to me. Over the years I have had been fortunate enough to enjoy some great moments in Europe and this award will help me remember them all.

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