Lifetime Achievement award for Sam

Ryder Cup-winning captain recognised for his contribution to the game

Torr blimey: Sam Torrance received the Lifetime Achievement gong at the 2012 Scottish Golf Awards

Sam Torrance was recognised for his long-standing contribution to golf with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the 2012 Annodata Scottish Golf Awards.

Torrance, 58, received the honour at a gala dinner in Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza Hotel fully 40 years after he secured his maiden professional victory in the Radici Open in Italy.

He went on to win 21 European Tour events in all, as well as 11 Senior Tour titles. He has also won the European Senior Tour Order of Merit three times and teamed-up with Colin Montgomerie and Andrew Coltart to win the Alfred Dunhill Cup for Scotland at St Andrews in 1995.

However, some of his finest moments came in the Ryder Cup where he holed the winning putt for Europe at The Belfry in 1985 and, 17 years later, captained the team to victory at the same venue.

He was presented with his award by Scotland football team manager Craig Levein and Richard Hills, the European Ryder Cup director, in front of his family, friends and a sell-out crowd of 500 guests at the glittering bash.

“I’m delighted to have received the Scottish Golf Lifetime Achievement Award, following in the footsteps of Paul Lawrie and Colin Montgomerie last year,” said Largs-born Torrance.

“It was a very special night for me, especially having my wife and three children present, along with my parents and friends from Ayrshire.

“I have enjoyed a wonderful career and being handed the award was another memorable occasion for me. I always love playing in Scotland and I was overjoyed to be honoured in my home country.”

Meanwhile, Torrance has put pen to paper on a new commercial partnership with brewer Tennent Caledonian which will see him becoming an ambassador for its new Caledonia Best brand.

The role will see Torrance assume the role of ‘Clubhouse Captain’ within the brand’s golfing activity.

George Kyle, head of sponsorship and PR at Tennent Caledonian, commented: “We are delighted to announce the tie-up between Sam Torrance and Caledonia Best. Sam is a global golfing hero and a proud Scot. We see a great fit between Sam and the brand and we’re delighted he will play a major role in our forthcoming golf activity.”

Torrance added: “Caledonia Best is an exciting, new, distinctly Scottish brand and I’m looking forward to having some fun working with them on their up-coming golf projects.”

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered