Brian Huggett, the Welsh golfer who played in six Ryder Cup matches and finished second in the 1965 Open Championship, has died at the age of 87.
A statement issued on behalf of Huggett’s family said that he had died in the early hours of Sunday morning after a short illness.
Porthcawl-born Huggett won 16 European tournaments during his career, and was Europe’s top golfer in 1968.
He turned professional in 1951, and served as an assistant professional to his father at Redhill & Reigate Golf Club in Surrey, later being the professional at Romford Golf Club in Essex from 1960-66.
Like many tour pros at the time, he combined his club commitments with his professional player career and soon among the leading lights of the European Circuit – the precursor of today’s European Tour – during the 1960s.
Despite being just 5ft 6 inches tall, what Huggett lacked in stature he compensated with immense skill and tenacity. He won 14 times, and claimed another two victories after the European Tour was formed 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 in the Ryder Cup, but played in the tied match 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, aged 41, he captained Great Britain & Ireland team at the 1977 Ryder Cup held at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s when USA won by 12.5-7.5. It was the last match before Europe joined forces with GB&I to create stronger opposition to the all-conquering USA team.
After turning 50, Huggett was one of the inaugural members of the European Seniors Tour, winning 10 tournaments in a seniors career that spanned from 1992 to his last tournament in 2007, aged 70. He won the Senior Open Championship in 1998, and his last win came at the 2000 Beko Classic at the age of 63.
Huggett’s contribution to Welsh sport was recognised when he was inducted to the Wales Sport Hall of Fame in 2006 and he was made an MBE in 1978.
