O'Grady to become European Tour executive director

George O’Grady has accepted an invitation from the board of directors and tournament committee to succeed Ken Schofield as executive director of the European Tour.

Schofield, who was appointed on January 1, 1975, confirmed his decision to step aside at the end of 2004 earlier this month.

In Schofield’s first year as executive director, the European Tour comprised 17 official events with official prize money of £427,917 (€606,708).

In 2003 there were 45 Volvo Order of Merit Events and 48 in total, with total prize money of £77,866,391 (€110,398,194).