Van Phillips

Took up golf at age 11 after he and his father drove past a pitch-and-putt course. Scratch at 15 and played the Walker Cup in 1999. One of a dozen first-time winners on the European Tour in 1999. Beat John Bickerton at the first hole of a play-off for the Portuguese Algarve Open. Was also a winner on the Challenge Tour, with victories in the 1996 Interlaken Open and the non-Tour-affiliated Mauritius Open in 2006.

Formerly the most easily identifiable golfer on the European Tour, wearing a shirt and tie courtesy of his then-sponsors. Once a keen Judo fighter, competing in national championships at Crystal Palace as a 12-year-old. Took a break through injury in 2008 and ran a successful academy in London before returning to play in 2014.

Played a total of 190 European Tour events, making 106 cuts with 8 top ten finishes. Had career earnings of euro 957,677.

He joined the European Legends Tour in 2023, making 12 starts and posting two top-10 finishes. Best was T-6th at the Farmfoods European Masters. He won euro67,458 and was 34th on the order of merit.

2024 Notes: Played in 12 Legends tour event with three top ten finishes. Was 14th on the order of merit, earning euro167,325. He won the Winston Golf Senior Open and was 2nd at the Farmfoods European Senior Masters.

2025 Notes: Played in 19 Legends tour events with four top ten finishes. Was 21st on the order of merit, earning euro132,176. Best finish, T-2nd at the Reignwood Legends Championship and Champions UK European Senior Masters.

2026 Notes: Was T-53rd at the Staysure Marbello Legends.