Who's who: Brian Huggett

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Who's who: Brian Huggett

  • Name:

    Brian George Charles Huggett
  • Country:

    Wales
  • Lived:

    [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:

    1951

Roll of Honour

Ryder 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).

Golf course design

Huggett was involved in a number of design projects, including (but not limited to): Hawkestone Park (Championship course) and Orchardleigh, both in the UK.

Did you know?

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).

Top tournaments won by Brian Huggett

2000
Europe
208 (-8)
€54,990
Beko

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Venue

Gloria

Score

208 (-8)

Prize money

€54,990

Title sponsor

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].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Score

209 (-7)

Prize money

£25,000

Title sponsor

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].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Score

283 (-5)

Prize money

£60,000

Title sponsor

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].

1995
Europe
200 (-10)
£16,660
Shell

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Score

200 (-10)

Prize money

£16,660

Title sponsor

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].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Score

209

Prize money

£8,887

Title sponsor

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].

1994
Europe
215
£16,660
La Manga

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Score

215

Prize money

£16,660

Title sponsor

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].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Score

204 (-6)

Prize money

£12,500

Title sponsor

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].

1993
Europe
107
£6,750
Northern Electric

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Score

107

Prize money

£6,750

Title sponsor

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].

1992
Europe
224
£6,250
Northern Electric

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Score

224

Prize money

£6,250

Title sponsor

Northern Electric

Played as the Northern Electric Seniors Open. Huggett (Wales) beat David Jimenez (USA) in a playoff. [Slaley Hall Resort, Hexham, Northumberland].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Score

221

Prize money

£5,000

Title sponsor

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].

1978
Europe
271 (-13)
£4,000
BA / Avis

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Venue

La Moye

Score

271 (-13)

Prize money

£4,000

Title sponsor

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].

1974
Europe
272 (-4)
£2,250
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Venue

Estoril

Score

272 (-4)

Prize money

£2,250

Title sponsor

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].

1971
Europe
South Herts GC
284
£825
Daks

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Venue

South Herts GC

Score

284

Prize money

£825

Title sponsor

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].

1970
Europe
293 (+1)
£1,000
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Score

293 (+1)

Prize money

£1,000

Title sponsor

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].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Score

293 (+9)

Prize money

£1,750

Title sponsor

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].

1970
Europe
279
£2,000
Carroll & Co.

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Score

279

Prize money

£2,000

Title sponsor

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].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Score

289

Prize money

£1,000

Title sponsor

Daks

Played as the Daks Tournament. Second-placed Bernard Gallacher (Scot) finished 2 shots behind Huggett (Wales). [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Score

135

Prize money

£500

Title sponsor

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].

1968
Europe
1 hole
£1,250
News of the World

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Score

1 hole

Prize money

£1,250

Title sponsor

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].

1968
Europe
278
£1,250
Martini

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Score

278

Prize money

£1,250

Title sponsor

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].

1968
Awards
919 pts
£8,223
British PGA

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Venue

Score

919 pts

Prize money

£8,223

Title sponsor

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.

1967
Europe
271
£450
UK / Ire PGA

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Score

271

Prize money

£450

Title sponsor

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].

1967
Europe
279 (-9)
£875
Martini

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Venue

Fulford

Score

279 (-9)

Prize money

£875

Title sponsor

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].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Score

278

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the German Open. Won by Huggett (Wales). [Golf & Land Club Köln, Refrath, nr Cologne].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Huggett, Brian

Score

274

Prize money

Title sponsor

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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