Seve Ballesteros has been named 2010 Honouree of The Memorial Tournament.
The Captains Club have honoured the Spanish veteran with the mantle as he continues his battle with a cancerous brain tumour.
The club always selects a player towards the end of his or her career and another legend of the game, Jack Nicklaus, phoned Ballesteros to let him know of the honour and said of his selection: "Seve represents what happened with the Ryder Cup being changed from being a British-US game to a European-US game.
"He sort of epitomises what The European tour is, of kids that have come from the caddie ranks, like from Spain, places where before it was an elitists' game, but now has players who have risen to the top and been the heart and soul and spirit of the European Ryder Cup team.
"When he was here in '87 for the Ryder Cup, his leadership of that team - even though Tony Jacklin was the captain - was fantastic. To be able to take him and honour him, it's the right time, he's the right person."
Ballesteros' close friend and compatriot Jose Maria Olazabal, who took part in the 2009 Memorial Tournament in the weekend just gone, was pleased for Ballesteros, adding: "It's a wonderful thing.
“I think that proves how important he's been for the game of golf around the world, not just in Europe.
"He was a huge figure when he was in his prime all around the world. It's wonderful for him to get this kind of reward, especially at a time like this with what he's going through."