Former Ryder Cup captain Huggett dies aged 87

Brian Huggett, nan Welsh golfer who played successful six Ryder Cups and vanished 2nd successful nan 1965 Open Championship, has died astatine nan property of 87.

A connection issued connected behalf of Huggett's family said nan golfing icon "died successful nan early hours of this greeting (22 September) aft a short illness".

Porthcawl-born Huggett won 16 European Circuit events during his career, and was Europe's apical golfer successful 1968.

He was skipper of nan Great Britain and Ireland squad astatine nan 1977 Ryder Cup - nan past 1 earlier players from nan remainder of Europe took portion successful 1979.

Huggett was besides portion of nan squad that brought nan Ryder Cup to Wales successful 2010.

Small successful stature, Huggett made up for his deficiency of size pinch accomplishment and tenacity.

He turned master successful 1951 and was among nan starring lights of nan European Circuit - nan precursor of today's European Tour - during nan 1960s.

He won 14 times connected nan circuit, and claimed different 2 victories aft nan European Tour was formed successful 1972.

He vanished 3rd successful nan 1962 Open Championship astatine Troon - 13 shots down victor Arnold Palmer - but was only 2 shots down victor Peter Thomson astatine Royal Birkdale successful 1965.

Later connected he was an inaugural personnel of nan European Seniors Tour, winning 10 tournaments.

Huggett was ne'er connected nan winning broadside successful nan Ryder Cup, but played successful nan tied lucifer successful 1969 erstwhile Jack Nicklaus conceded a putt to Tony Jacklin connected nan last greenish successful what became known arsenic "the concession".

The Welshman was skipper astatine Royal Lytham and St Anne's successful 1977 erstwhile USA won by 5 points.

It was nan past clip Great Britain and Ireland played nan USA, pinch nan squad expanding to go Europe by nan clip of nan 1979 match.

However, that was not nan extremity of Huggett's Ryder Cup involvement. He was an ambassador for nan 2010 arena which saw nan lucifer played successful Wales for nan first clip - pinch Europe beating USA 14 1/2 to 13 1/2.

Huggett's publication to Welsh athletics was recognised erstwhile he was inducted to nan Wales Sport Hall of Fame successful 2006, and he was made an MBE successful 1978.