Göran Zachrisson has received the 2018 Confederation of Professional Golf Special Recognition Award at the 2018 Annual Congress Gala Awards Supported By Rolex at Costa Navarino in Greece.
With over 60 years in the broadcasting and sports journalism world, Zachrisson receives the award in recognition of his impact on Swedish golf through his commentary, both verbal and written, on golf. He is also receiving the same award as his friend and colleague, Renton Laidlaw, a fellow legend of the golf journalism world.
With over 60 years in the broadcasting and sports journalism world, Zachrisson receives the award in recognition of his impact on Swedish golf through his commentary, both verbal and written, on golf. He is also receiving the same award as his friend and colleague, Renton Laidlaw, a fellow legend of the golf journalism world.
“I am very surprised to have won this award…and makes you wonder ‘why me?’,” said Zachrisson. It will take a long time for me to understand being given the award…I don’t think I’ve done anything more than what I should of.”
“I have always enjoyed the game. I am a journalist, a writer, I create things – I could have been a lot of other things, but it happened to be golf…and it makes you realise the intricacies, and despite golf being a small world, it is important.”
Zachrisson is known throughout not only Sweden but further afield as well, for his distinct style of reporting on golf and a variety of other sports including multi-sports events such as the Olympic Games, as well as his wealth of knowledge around golf as a sport and its traditions. In 2012, he also conducted a famous interview with then Captain of the Swedish national football team, Zlatan Ibrahimović, which was watched by over two million people across the country.
His commentary is known as legendary for its easy-going and gentle tone, as well as his incredible knowledge and experience that helps him portray what is happening to the viewers or listeners with trust and understanding.
“All I’ve done is woke up one morning, started doing it, and I’m still alive and doing the same thing…!” said Zachrisson. “I have the greatest respect for the game and I swore I would not mistreat it – not the history, the passions, the players, not anything.
“I hope that my legacy would be in telling stories, whether it’s golf or whatever it is, a story has to be told. It has to be told clearly, but with a sense of humour and warmth. If I can reach someone and their story, if we can find a relationship then I love it…you want to get in behind the scenes and find the magic of a story.”
His career began in the early 1960s when he became Editor in Chief of the Swedish golf magazine, Svensk Golf. By 1966, he was commentating on the largest golf events in the world for Swedish national television, including the Ryder Cup in 1965 at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, England, and the Open Championship won by Jack Nicklaus in 1966 at Muirfield Golf Links, Scotland.
In the early 90s, Zachrisson was hired by Swedish broadcaster, Viasat, and since then has been a commentator across its portfolio of channels. He has also authored a variety of his books, as well as continuing to write for Svensk Golf and other magazines such as Golf-Store Magazine and Golf Digest.
Having joined the Association of Golf Writers (AGW) in 1987, he more recently has held the position of President of the Association from 2015 – 2018, succeeding Renton Laidlaw and becoming the first non-Brit in the AGW’s history to hold this senior position.
Not only was he involved in the coverage of golf, but, having started with hickory-shafted clubs in his family garden, he played to a high level, competing in the Swedish Championship in 1964 – and showed more incredible sporting prowess by also competing nationally for squash and alpine skiing in that same year as well.
Zachrisson continues to reside in Sweden and is a member of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, as well as Royal Liverpool Golf Club, England, and several golf clubs in Sweden including Djursholm Golf Club, Sand Golf Club, Stockholms Golfklubb, and Svartinge Golf Club.
For More Information On All of 2018’s Award Winners Visit http://eur.pe/2018AnnualCongress
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For more information on the 2018 Annual Award Winners visit Annual Congress Hub Page (http://eur.pe/2018AnnualCongress),follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter and search the hashtag ‘#AnnualCongress’ or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.
The Annual Congress Gala Awards are partnered by Rolex, Costa Navarino, the Ryder Cup European Development Trust, and Aegean Airlines.
