Hitchcock passes away
05/01/2016
** The 1965 Ryder Cup team - Hitchcock is pictured second from right on the bottom row.
Former Ryder Cup player Jimmy Hitchcock has passed away aged 85.
Hitchcock, who represented Great Britain in the 1965 matches at Royal Birkdale, died on Christmas Day at home in Belgium where he had been spending his retirement.
Born in Bromley, south London, Hitchcock appeared in the biennial matchplay event as part of a Great Britain team containing the likes of Peter Alliss and Bernard Hunt.
He took on legendary seven-time major winner Arnold Palmer in the morning singles over the Southport Links, unashamedly losing 3&2 to the American.
He also faced off against Julius Boros in the afternoon singles and partnered Irishman Jimmy Martin in the foursomes against Boros and Tony Lema before Britain eventually succumbed to a 19 ½ - 12 ½ defeat at the hands of their transatlantic rivals.
Hitchcock was an honorary member of The PGA for 65 years and worked at Humewood Golf Club in Port Elizabeth, South Africa for 10 years between 1983 and 1993 before his retirement.
He won several professional events over the course of his playing career including the British Masters in 1960 and the Afga-Gevaert Tournament in 1965.
Other highlights included an appearance at the US Masters in 1966 and an 11th place finish in the 1959 Open at Muirfield, an event which was eventually won by Gary Player.
