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Nick Price Elected To World Golf Hall Of Fame Contact Jane Fader ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., (May 6, 2003) - Nick Price has been elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame via the PGA TOUR ballot. The announcement was made today by PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem at a press conference at the Wachovia Championship. Price was chosen on 76 percent of the returned ballots. Price will be inducted on October 20th as the 99th member during the World Golf Hall of Fame's annual Induction Ceremony at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Fla. "I am honored to have been elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame," said Price. "To be in the same company as this elite group is a great privilege." Price, a member of the PGA TOUR since 1983, was born in Durban, South Africa and raised in Zimbabwe. He established himself as a promising newcomer first on the Southern African Tour and European PGA Tour. From his breakthrough victory at the 1992 PGA Championship through the end of the 1994 season, Price captured 16 worldwide wins. In 1993, he won THE PLAYERS Championship. He was victorious six times in 1994, including the 1994 British Open and PGA Championship. In doing so, he became one of only six players to win back-to-back majors since World War II (there are seven now). The victories propelled Price to the top position of the World Rankings in 1994 and 1995. With his win at the 2002 MasterCard Colonial, Price has tallied 18 PGA TOUR victories and 23 International wins. "Achievement, on and off the course, has marked Nick Price's career," said Finchem. "Nick will always be remembered for one of the dominant stretches in PGA TOUR history and this honor is an important part of his legacy." Price also has collected two PGA TOUR money titles (1993, 1994), two PGA TOUR Player of the Year awards (1993, 1994), two Vardon Trophies (1993, 1997), earned the 1997 Byron Nelson Award, and received the PGA TOUR's Payne Stewart Award in 2002. He has been a member of the International Team in every Presidents Cup competition. Last year he became the recipient of the Golf Writers Association of America's inaugural ASAP Sports/Jim Murray Award, given to a professional player for his cooperation, quoteability and accommodation to the media. "Nick Price's successful playing career has earned him this mark of distinction," said Jack Peter, the Hall of Fame's Chief Operating Officer. "We are proud of his accomplishments and look forward to welcoming him into the Hall of Fame in October." More than 80 percent of the PGA TOUR ballots sent out were returned and nearly 70 percent of the International ballots were received before the deadline. On the International ballot, none of the candidates received more than the 65 percent of the vote required for election. Below are the top-five finishers for both ballots: PGA TOUR International Other 2003 inductees include Leo Diegel, who was selected through the Veterans Category, and Chako Higuchi, who was selected through the Lifetime Achievement Category. About World Golf Hall of Fame The World Golf Hall of Fame, located at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., is a collaboration of 26 national and international golf organizations, including the PGA TOUR, LPGA, USGA, Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Augusta National Golf Club and the PGA of America. The museum houses interactive displays, historic artifacts, a special exhibit gallery, an IMAX Theater and the Hall of Fame itself, which honors the game's greatest players and contributors. World Golf Hall of Fame, along with The First Tee, GOLF 20/20: Vision for the Future and the National Minority Golf Foundation, are part of the World Golf Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation. As sole founding partner of World Golf Hall of Fame, Shell Oil Company provides financial support and plays the lead role in charitable initiatives aimed at introducing golf to young people, and through the golf experience promotes scholastic achievement, community service and those values intrinsic to the game of golf: honesty, integrity and sportsmanship. |