Brian Huggett, the Welsh golfer who played in six Ryder Cups and finished second in the 1965 Open Championship, has died aged 87.
A statement issued on behalf of Huggett’s family revealed that he died in the early hours of Sunday after a brief illness.
Porthcawl-born Huggett won 16 European championships during his career, and was Europe’s top golfer in 1968.
He turned professional in 1951, and worked as his father’s assistant at Redhill & Reigate Golf Club in Surrey, later becoming professional at Romford Golf Club in Essex from 1960-66.
Like many touring professionals at the time, he combined his team commitments with his career as a professional player and was soon among the leading lights of the European Circuit – the forerunner of today’s European Tour – during the 1960s.
Despite being 5ft 6in tall, what Huggett lacked in stature he made up for with great skill and stamina. He won 14 times, and had two more victories after the formation of the European Tour in 1972, including the Portuguese Open in 1974.
He finished third in the 1962 Open Championship at Troon – 13 shots behind winner Arnold Palmer – but was only two shots behind winner Peter Thomson at Royal Birkdale in 1965.
Huggett was never on the winning side of the Ryder Cup, but did play in a tie in 1969, when Jack Nicklaus conceded a putt to Tony Jacklin on the final green in what became known as ‘The Concession’.
Later in his career, at the age of 41, he captained Great Britain and Ireland in the 1977 Ryder Cup at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s where the USA won 12.5-7.5. It was the last game before Europe met GB&I to create a strong opposition to the all-conquering USA team.
After turning 50, Huggett was one of the original members of the European Seniors Tour, winning 10 tournaments in a senior career spanning 1992 until his final tournament in 2007, aged 70. He won the Senior Open Championship in 1998, his last. victory came at the 2000 Beko Classic at age 63.
Huggett’s contribution to Welsh sport was recognized when he was inducted into the Wales Sport Hall of Fame in 2006 and made an MBE in 1978.
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