Brian Huggett
Name:
Brian George Charles HuggettCountry:
WalesLived:
[1936-2024]. Born Nov 18, 1936 in Porthcawl, Glamorganshire, South Wales. Died on Sept 22, 2024, aged 87.Original/Home Club:
Royal Porthcawl GC and Neath GC.Occupation:
Professional golfer; golf course architect.Turned Pro:
1951Ryder Cup player (1963, '67, '69, '71, '73, '75). Ryder Cup captain (1977). Total professional wins (29), including European circuit/Tour (16) and European Senior Tour (10). Awarded Harry Vardon Trophy as (British) PGA Order of Merit winner (1968). Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, MBE (1978).
Huggett was involved in a number of design projects, including (but not limited to): Hawkestone Park (Championship course) and Orchardleigh, both in the UK.
No surprise Huggett got into golf, with his father George the professional at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club. Always a big occasion golfer, Huggett won 16 times during a highly successful European Tour career.
He was a six-time Ryder Cup player and captained the 1977 Great Britain & Ireland team at Royal Lytham & St Annes, where the USA never lost their early advantage, eventually winning 12.5 to 7.5. Huggett counts cricket among his sporting interests, and is a member of the prestigious MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club).
Europe
Beko
Played as the Beko Classic (May 5-7). 63-year-old Huggett (Wales) beat Bob Shearer (Aus) with a par at the first playoff hole, to record the last of his ten European Snr Tour wins. [Gloria Resort, Belek, nr Antalya, Turkey].
Europe
Schroder
Played as the Schroder Senior Masters (Jul 31-Aug 2). Huggett (Wales) beat Neil Coles (Eng) and Eddie Polland (N.Ire) in a playoff. [Edinburgh course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].
Europe
x
Played as the Senior British Open (12th) (Aug 6-9). Huggett (Wales) beat Eddie Polland (N. Ire) with a par at the first playoff hole (par-4 18th), to claim back-to-back wins on the European Snr Tour. [Dunluce Links, Royal Portrush GC, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland].
Europe
Shell
Played as the Shell Scottish Seniors Open (Sept 1-3). Second-placed Neil Coles (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Brian Huggett (Wales). [Royal Aberdeen GC, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen].
Europe
x
Played as the Windsor Senior Masters (Eurpn Snrs Tr event). Second-placed Antonio Garrido (Esp) finished 1 shot behind Huggett (Wales). [Windsor Golf Hotel & CC, Nairobi, Kenya].
Europe
La Manga
Played as the La Manga Spanish Seniors Open. Huggett (Wales) beat Malcolm Gregson (Eng) and David Snell (Eng) in a playoff. [La Manga Club, nr Cartagena, Murcia, Spain].
Europe
Forte
Played as the Forte PGA Seniors Championship (Aug 6-8). Second-placed Bobby Verwey (RSA) finished 3 shots behind Brian Huggett (Wales). [Old course, Sunningdale GC, Sunningdale, Berks].
Europe
Northern Electric
Played as the Northern Electric Seniors Open. Second-placed Brian Waites (Eng) and Tim Horton (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Huggett (Wales). [Slaley Hall Resort, Hexham, Northumberland].
Europe
Northern Electric
Played as the Northern Electric Seniors Open. Huggett (Wales) beat David Jimenez (USA) in a playoff. [Slaley Hall Resort, Hexham, Northumberland].
Europe
x
Played as the Gary Player Anvil Snrs Classic. Brian Huggett (Wales) beat Tommy Horton (Eng) in a playoff. [Old course, St Pierre Hotel & CC, Chepstow, South Wales].
Europe
BA / Avis
Played as the inaugural BA/Avis Jersey Open (June 1-4). Second-placed Eamonn Darcy (Ire) finished 3 shots behind Huggett (Wales), who recorded the second of his two European Tour wins, which came after 14 European circuit wins. [La Moye GC, St Brelade, Jersey, Channel Islands].
Europe
x
Played as the Portuguese Open (Apr 10-13; European Tr season-opener). Second-placed John Fourie (RSA) finished 4 shots behind 37-year-old Brian Huggett (Wales), who recorded the first of his two European Tour wins (having won several times on the earlier European circuit). [Estoril GC, Estoril, Portugal].
Europe
Daks
Played as the (last) Daks Tournament. Brian Huggett (Wales) and defending champion Neil Coles (Eng) finished in a tie for first place. Peter Townsend (Eng) finished 2 shots further back in third place. [South Herts GC, Totteridge, North London].
Europe
x
Played as the Algarve Open (March 19-21). Second-placed Andrew Brooks (Scot) finished 3 shots behind Brian Huggett (Wales). [Old course, Vilamoura GC, Algarve, Portugal].
Europe
Dunlop
Played as the Dunlop Masters (25th) (Sept 10-12). Second-placed David Graham (Aus) finished 5 shots behind Huggett (Wales). [Royal Lytham & St Annes GC, nr Blackpool, Lancs].
Europe
Carroll & Co.
Played as the Carroll's International. Second-placed Christy O'Connor Snr (Ire) finished 7 shots behind Huggett (Wales). [Woodbrook GC, nr Bray, Co. Wicklow].
Europe
Daks
Played as the Daks Tournament. Second-placed Bernard Gallacher (Scot) finished 2 shots behind Huggett (Wales). [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].
Europe
Bowmaker
Played as the Bowmaker £4000 Tournament (a 36-hole pro-am event). Tony Grubb (Eng) and Brian Huggett (Wales) finished in a tie for first place. Peter Butler (Eng) and George Will (Scot) finished 1 shot further back in joint third place. [Sunningdale GC, Sunningdale, Berks].
Europe
News of the World
Played as the News of the World Match Play (Sept 5-8). Huggett (Wales) beat John Panton (Scot) by 1 hole in the 18-hole final. [Old course, Walton Heath GC, Walton on the Hill, Surrey].
Europe
Martini
Played as the Martini £7000 International (June 13-15). Second-placed Tommy Horton (Eng) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Huggett (Wales), who recorded his third European circuit win of the year. [Southerndown GC, Ogmore by Sea, nr Bridgend, S Wales].
Awards
British PGA
Huggett (Wales) won the Harry Vardon Trophy as the British PGA Tour 1968 Order of Merit winner. Using a season-long points system, Huggett accumulated 919 pts; Peter Butler (Eng) was second with 909 pts; Christy O'Connor Sr (Ire) was third with 895.5 pts. Peter Townsend (Eng) topped the Tour's 1968 Prize Money List with £9,593; Huggett was second with £8,223; Neil Coles (Eng) was third with £5,934.
Europe
UK / Ire PGA
Played as the PGA Close Championship (June 8-10; this was a "closed" event, for UK & Irish professionals only; also played in 1967 was the Schweppes PGA Championship, "open" to professionals from any country). Second-placed Jimmy Hitchcock (Eng) and Bernard Hunt (Eng) finished 8 shots behind Huggett (Wales). [Thorndon Park GC, Ingrave, Essex].
Europe
Martini
Played as the Martini International (June 15-17). Brian Huggett (Wales) and Malcolm Gregson (Eng) finished in a tie for first place. Hugh Boyle (Ire) finished 1 shot further back in third place. [Fulford GC, York, North Yorkshire].
Europe
x
Played as the German Open. Won by Huggett (Wales). [Golf & Land Club Köln, Refrath, nr Cologne].
Europe
x
Played as the Dutch Open (Aug 2-5). Second-placed Gerard de Wit (Neth) finished 2 shots behind Huggett (Wales). This was the last of De Wit's five runner-up finishes in his home national championship, an event he was destined never to win. [Hilversumsche GC, Hilversum, nr Amsterdam].
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