Dornoch-based golf photographer to receive coveted US award during Masters

Matthew Harris, who lives in Dornoch and is a proud member of Royal Dornoch, will receive the PGA of America Lifetime Achievement Award in Photojournalism during Masters week in April.

It will be presented at the 52nd annual ISPS Handa GWAA Awards Dinner in Augusta.

“Matthew Harris is as good as it gets when it comes to photographing our great game,” said Nathan Charnes, PGA of America vice president.

“For over four decades, Matthew has masterfully documented the major moments, people and places that define the world of golf.

“On behalf of the more than 30,000 PGA of America golf professionals, I proudly congratulate Matthew on this richly-deserved recognition.”

Harris earned his first big break from Bill Robertson, editor at Golf Illustrated (UK), who routinely featured his work in the magazine before appointing him as lead photographer when Today’s Golfer was launched in 1988.

Seve celebration at St Andrews was key in early career

“I am forever grateful to Bill for the opportunities he gave me,” said Harris, who, over the past 40-plus years, has covered 20 Ryder Cups, as well as 150 men’s majors and numerous women’s majors and Solheim Cups.

“The photograph that really propelled my early career was a frame from Seve Ballesteros’s celebration sequence winning The Open in 1984 at St Andrews in Scotland,” said Harris.

“It is his most famous reaction from his illustrious career. All of the elements as a photographer you want to work did- his face expression, his body shape, angle, light and background.

“I became good friends with Seve and was fortunate enough to get on very well with Europe’s so called ‘Big Five’: Faldo, Lyle, Langer, Woosnam and the other top Europeans that followed - Olazábal, Montgomerie, Clarke, Harrington and McIlroy.”