Brian Huggett: Former Great Britain & Ireland Ryder Cup captain dies aged 87

Brian Huggett, the Welsh golfer who played in six Ryder Cups 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 the golfing icon had died in the early hours of Sunday morning after a short illness.

Porthcawl-born Huggett won 16 European Circuit events during his career, and was Europe’s top golfer in 1968.

He was captain of the Great Britain and Ireland team at the 1977 Ryder Cup – the last before players from the rest of Europe took part.

Huggett was also part of the team that brought the Ryder Cup to Wales in 2010.

Small in stature, Huggett made up for his lack of size with skill and tenacity.

He turned professional in 1951 and was among the leading lights of the European Circuit – the precursor of today’s European Tour – during the 1960s.

Huggett won 14 times on the circuit, and claimed another two victories after the European Tour was formed in 1972.

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.

Later in his career he was an inaugural member of the European Seniors Tour, winning 10 tournaments.

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”.

The Welshman was captain at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s in 1977 when USA won by five points.

It was the last time Great Britain and Ireland played the USA, with the team expanding to become Europe by the time of the 1979 match.

However, that was not the end of Huggett’s Ryder Cup involvement. He was an ambassador for the 2010 event which saw the match played in Wales for the first time – with Europe beating USA 14 1/2 to 13 1/2.

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.