A collection of previously unseen photographs of pivotal moments in golfing history has been unveiled.
More than 1,500 photographs taken at various Ryder Cups have been uploaded to St Andrews University’s website to celebrate the tournament, which takes place at Gleneagles this weekend.
The images, taken by revered golf photographer Lawrence Levy, include unseen moments of the championship’s history, including Scottish golfer Sam Torrance’s winning putt in 1985 at The Belfry in Wishaw and Tom Watson’s victory for the US in 1993.
Mr Levy captured the moments during his time as the official photographer of the European team during the Ryder Cups from 1970-1993.
He died of cancer at the age of 47 in 1995, after spending the last 20 years of his life working for the Ryder Cup and Golf World magazine.
The massive online collection was catalogued over the last two years by Trevor Ledger.
Mr Ledger said: “The Lawrence Levy collection is one of the most complete photographic records of professional golf through the 1980s and 1990s.
“As official photographer for the European Ryder Cup Team, Lawrence held a unique position and was able to capture some incredible images from inside the ropes, and indeed from inside the changing room too.
“With the process of digital cataloguing continuing, yet more images from across the collection will be added on a weekly basis.”
Mr Levy used his close friendships with prominent professional golfing figures such as Greg Norman, Steve Ballesteros, Tom Watson and Arnold Palmer to capture intimate, natural photographs of them at work and at play.
As well as capturing the prominent golfers of the time on film, the photographer focused his camera lens on other aspects of golfing culture, such as the jubilation on fans faces following victories, emotions of golfer’s families at big games, and the swathes of other members of the media following the games.