Tommy Horton, the former Ryder Cup player and PGA captain, has died after suffering a short illness.
The 76 year old was taken ill while attending an event at Royal Jersey Golf Club on December 7, and died that same evening.
Horton was PGA captain in 1978 and played in the Ryder Cup on two occasions. He won four European Tour events and finished in the top ten three times. His best year was 1976, when he was fifth.
His record on the Senior Tour was even more impressive. The Tour was founded shortly after he reached the qualifying age of 50 in 1991, and he was the dominant figure in its early days. He headed the money list in five seasons – 1993, 96, 97, 98 and 99 – and led the Tour’s career prize-winning chart until 2007, when he was overtaken by Carl Mason.
Horton, who was born in Lancashire, began his golfing career as a professional at Ham Manor Golf Club in Sussex. In 1959, he moved to Royal Jersey Golf Club as head professional in 1974, where he remained until his retirement in 1999.
Reflecting on Horton’s career, PGA chief executive Robert Maxfield, said: “Despite his success at the game’s highest level Tommy was first and foremost a PGA Professional. He flew the flag for the association at every opportunity, especially during his year as captain. The days when club professionals like Tommy could excel on the Tour are long gone, but he never lived in the past and was always mindful of the game’s future. To that end he was the first honorary captain of the European Junior Ryder Cup team for the match in 2008 and for the three subsequent encounters. He also kept in touch with the PGA and attended the most recent biennial past captains’ lunch in March. He was accompanied by Helen, his wife, and we extend our deepest sympathy to her and his family at this desperately sad time.”