Eisenhower made 45 trips to Augusta National - five before his election, 29 while in office and 11 after his two terms as president.

According to ``First Off The Tee,'' a book on U.S. presidents who played golf, 3.2 million Americans played golf when Eisenhower took office in January 1953, a number that had doubled when he left office.

``He was a role model not only in the United States, but throughout the free world, and his leadership during World War II brought hope when it was sorely needed,'' said Peter Dawson, chief executive of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club. ``That such a man was devoted to golf did much to popularize and raise the stature of our sport.''

Eisenhower will be inducted along with two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain, former PGA champion Lanny Wadkins and Christy O'Connor of Ireland.

He joins a short list of Hall of Famers who never played competitively, such as Bob Hope and Dinah Shore.