Brian Huggett, the esteemed Welsh golfer who participated in six Ryder Cups and finished second in the 1965 Open Championship, has passed away at the age of 87.
His family announced that he died in the early hours of Sunday morning following a short illness.
Born in Porthcawl, Huggett enjoyed a successful career, winning 16 European Circuit events and earning the title of Europe’s top golfer in 1968.
He captained the Great Britain and Ireland team in the 1977 Ryder Cup, which was the last event before players from across Europe joined the competition.
Despite his small stature, Huggett compensated with remarkable skill and determination. He turned professional in 1951 and became a leading figure on the European Circuit, a precursor to the modern European Tour, throughout the 1960s.
He secured 14 wins on the circuit, adding two more victories after the European Tour’s inception in 1972.
Huggett finished third in the 1962 Open Championship at Troon and narrowly missed victory at Royal Birkdale in 1965, finishing just two shots behind Peter Thomson.
In the latter part of his career, he became an inaugural member of the European Seniors Tour, winning 10 tournaments.
Though Huggett never played on a winning Ryder Cup team, he participated in the memorable 1969 match where Jack Nicklaus conceded a putt to Tony Jacklin, a moment now known as “the concession.” As captain in 1977, he led the team to a five-point loss to the USA, marking the last match featuring only Great Britain and Ireland before the team expanded to include all of Europe.
Huggett remained involved in the Ryder Cup as an ambassador for the 2010 event, which was held in Wales for the first time, resulting in a narrow victory for Europe over the USA (14.5 to 13.5).
In recognition of his contributions to Welsh sport, Huggett was inducted into the Wales Sport Hall of Fame in 2006 and received an MBE in 1978.
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