Peter McEvoy OBE, one of the amateur game's most respected and renowned figures, has died at the age of 72.
Born in London in 1953, Peter was brought up in Renfrewshire, Scotland and swung a club for the first time there with his father, a doctor, and a member of the local club, Gourock, near Greenock.
His family moved to the West Midlands when he was ten and, aged 13, he joined Copt Heath Golf Club near Solihull. He was made an Honorary Member despite moving from Tewkesbury to Troon in 2018, and the Peter McEvoy Trophy was named after him, which is contested annually at Copt Heath.
Peter played 153 matches for England between 1976-1992, which included 103 wins and a staggering 111 points.
He won the Amateur Championship in 1977 and 1978, and was the low amateur at The Open in 1978 and 1979.
He became the first British amateur to make the cut at The Masters in 1978 while his other accolades included the Lytham Trophy in 1979, the Brabazon Trophy in 1980, and he was also a runner-up in the Amateur Championship in 1987.
Peter wasn’t just an integral part of England teams either. He featured in five Walker Cup teams for GB&I between 1977 and 1989, and later went on to become Captain of the team in 1999 and 2001, leading the side to victory on both occasions – the first-ever time GB&I had won consecutive events.
Peter played in five Eisenhower Trophies, including 1988 when he won the individual event and helped GB&I win the team event. He later captained GB&I to victory in the tournament in 1998 and remains the only person to have won the individual event, team event as a player, and team event as a Captain.
He captained the side again in 2000, where the team finished second, while in 2002, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales began sending separate teams to the competition, with Peter captaining the English team.
He also played in seven European Amateur Team Championships and enjoyed five wins from five St Andrews Trophy representations.
In 1978, Peter was awarded the Golf Writers’ Trophy for his Amateur Championship success and Masters performance, while he landed the award again 23 years later as Captain of the 2001 Walker Cup team.
He was awarded the Gerald Micklem Award in 1999, given to those who have made an outstanding contribution to further the interests of amateur golf in England.
Peter was involved in golf course design for over 20 years, was Chairman of The R&A Selection Committee, and awarded an OBE in 2003.
A legend of our sport, Peter McEvoy was one of the very first people inducted into the England Golf Hall of Fame in 2024.
England Golf Chief Executive Jeremy Tomlinson said: “Peter was an incredible amateur golfer in so many regards – as a player, a teammate, a Captain and then supporting inspiration to worldwide golf, and of course especially to England Golf.
“We have lost one of our heroes, which is amazingly sad, and at this time we share our deepest sympathies with all Peter’s family and friends. An inaugural inductee to our England Golf Hall of Fame, he will forever be remembered and celebrated as one of our very best.”
DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings said: “Peter was very much a giant of the amateur game, a brilliant player in his own right and an extraordinary captain of the Walker Cup on two occasions.
“On a personal level Peter and I got on very well which was ironic as he always said we really shouldn’t as he was the doyen of the amateur world and I was an agent dealing in the professional sphere. But that didn’t matter and he was always great company.
“Back in 2001 I was trying to sign both Luke Donald and Nick Dougherty on professional terms and I remember Peter calling me and saying ‘Whatever you do, please don’t sign them ahead of the Walker Cup at Sea Island because I really need them both for the team!
“He had no need to worry as I had absolutely no intention of getting in the way of that and it was great to see them both sign off their amateur careers with a great victory for Great Britain and Ireland in Georgia that year.
“His is a great loss to the game and the thoughts of everyone at the DP World Tour right now are with his wife Helen, children Cameron, Richie, Douglas and Mary, and his countless friends across the globe.”
European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald said: “Peter was a very important figure in my golfing life, he was my mentor as well as being my Captain in both my Walker Cup appearances.
“I spoke to him a lot over the years and he was one of the guys I called early in my 2023 Captaincy and ahead of the week itself in Rome. I valued his advice very much and I learned a lot from him. Today is a very sad day.”
Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We have lost one of amateur golf’s most respected figures with the passing of Peter McEvoy.
“Peter was an outstanding amateur golfer and enjoyed an illustrious career, including his two victories in The Amateur Championship and success in the Walker Cup. He also worked so hard to develop the game as an administrator and help provide opportunities for aspiring players.
“Peter was dedicated to the amateur game, choosing not to turn professional, and will be widely missed across the golf world. On behalf of The R&A and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews I would like to offer our deepest condolences to Peter’s family at this sad time."
With thanks to England Golf
