On the day that he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, along with seven others, Michael Bonallack's continued influence on golf was copper-fastened when he was appointed to take up the position as non-executive director on the European Tour's board of directors.

Having stepped down last year as secretary of the Royal and Ancient, Bonallack - a five-time winner of the British amateur championship - had little hesitation in accepting the offer to bring his vast experience into the professional ranks. "I have always said that if you have the chance in this life of combining your passion and your profession, then you should take it. And this opportunity to work with the European Tour offers a new and invigorating challenge," he said.

Now aged 65, Bonallack enjoyed an outstanding amateur career which delivered five British amateur titles as well as nine Walker Cup appearances, two as playing captain. He served as the first independent chairman of the Professional Golfers' Association from 1976 to 1982 before taking up his position as secretary of the R and A, a post he held from 1983 to 1999.

Bonallack has been joined in the Hall of Fame by Neil Coles and John Jacobs, considered the founding fathers of the modern European Tour. Former US Tour commissioner Deane Beman and past US Masters and US PGA winner Jack Burke Jnr along with US LPGA Tour qualifiers Judy Rankin, Juli Inkster and Beth Daniel were also inducted.