May 12, 2011 – One of the most decorated local professionals in golf history, Yonkers, N.Y., native Doug Ford was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame on Monday, May 9, in St. Augustine, Fla. Ford, who won the 1955 PGA Championship, 1957 Masters and 1956 Met Open, collected 19 PGA Tour victories over his career. Ford was also a four-time member of the United States Ryder Cup team, helping the U.S. to three victories.

Ford, 88, is no stranger to MGA and Met Area competition. His win in the 1956 Met Open was a three-stroke victory over Mike Turnesa at Inwood Country Club, and he finished runner-up to Wes Ellis at the 1963 Met Open at Plainfield. Ford’s ties to the Association run deep as he was also a close personal friend of longtime MGA official Jerry Mahoney. Ford also won four Met PGA Championships and two Westchester Opens, and his son Mike won the 1973 Ike Championship at Knollwood Country Club.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony also recognized 2007 Gold Tee winner and two-time major winner Ernie Els, who is also scheduled to receive the 2011 Winnie Palmer Award at the MGWA’s Annual Dinner, former President George H.W. Bush, the late Jock Hutchison, Masashi “Jumbo” Ozaki, and the late Frank Chirkinian as 2011 inductees.