Brian Huggett

Brian George Charles Huggett, (born 18 November 1936) is a Welsh professional golfer.

After World War II, George was the professional at Neath Golf Club before moving to Redhill and Reigate Golf Club, in Surrey, in 1950.

Huggett has a younger brother Geoff who was also a professional golfer.

In 1951, Huggett turned professional becoming an assistant to his father at Redhill and Reigate, later being the professional at Romford Golf Club from 1960 to 1966.

He played in the Open Championship 19 successive times between 1961 and 1979, finishing tied for third place in 1962 and joint runner-up in 1965.

Huggett was born in Porthcawl, Wales, the son of George Huggett, who was an assistant professional at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club.

He won 16 events on the European circuit between 1962 and 1978, including two after the formal start of the European Tour in 1972.

Huggett won his first important individual event in 1962, the Dutch Open.

He had been runner-up the previous year.

Earlier in 1962, he had finished tied for third in the Open Championship, albeit a full 13 shots behind runaway winner Arnold Palmer.

After his successes in 1962 and 1963, Huggett struggled for success from 1964 to 1966, a period that coincided with the introduction of the bigger ball in many tournaments.

Huggett played six times for Great Britain and Ireland in the Ryder Cup between 1963 and 1975 and had a 9–10–6 win–loss–half record, despite never being on a winning team.

He represented Wales nine times in the World Cup between 1963 and 1979.

In 1963 he was joined at Romford by his father.

Huggett had two more wins in 1963, the Cox Moore Tournament and the German Open, and finished the season third in the Order of Merit.

He qualified for the 1963 Ryder Cup team in third place in the points list.

Although the United States won the match 23 to 9, Huggett was the leading British scorer, with two wins and a half.

As in 1963, the British and Irish team was heavily defeated.

Huggett beat Julius Boros in the morning singles matches but lost to Arnold Palmer in his afternoon match.

During this period he was, however, joint runner-up in the 1965 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, an event played with the smaller ball.

He finished two shots behind Australia's Peter Thomson.

Huggett returned to form in 1967, winning the PGA Close Championship and the Martini International in successive weeks, although he tied the Martini International with Malcolm Gregson.

He qualified for the 1967 Ryder Cup team, finishing 7th in the points list.

In 1968 he won the Harry Vardon Trophy for leading the Order of Merit and he was in third place in 1969, 1970 and 1972.

From 1968 to 1970 Huggett was a regular winner.

In 1968, he won the Shell Winter Tournament, the Sumrie Tournament, the Martini International and the News of the World Match Play.

He took Harry Vardon Trophy for leading the Order of Merit and played in the 1968 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship, losing to Arnold Palmer at the 36th hole.

In 1969 Huggett won the Daks Tournament and was joint winner of the Bowmaker Tournament, finishing the season third in the 1969 Order of Merit.

Huggett was in second place in the Ryder Cup standings to get an automatic place in the team.

The Ryder Cup was tied at 16 points each.

In 1970 Huggett won the Algarve Open, the Carroll's International and the Dunlop Masters.

He again finished 3rd in the Order of Merit.

Huggett was ranked 10th in the world in McCormack's World Golf Rankings at the end of 1970, the rankings being based on performances from 1968 to 1970.

Huggett was joint winner of the 1971 Daks Tournament with Neil Coles, but dropped to 8th place in the Order of Merit.

He was also the Great Britain & Ireland's non-playing captain in 1977.

He won 10 times on the European Seniors Tour between 1992 and 2000, including the 1998 Senior British Open.

Just before making his putt he had heard a loud roar from the 17th green, where Tony Jacklin was playing Jack Nicklaus.

Believing that Jacklin had beaten Nicklaus he thought that his putt had won the Ryder Cup.

Only after leaving the green did he find out the Jacklin/Nicklaus match was still being played.

Playing the 18th hole in the last-but-one match, Huggett holed a putt to halve his match with Billy Casper.