Former Ryder Cup player Peter Oosterhuis has died at the age of 75.
The Englishman, who played in six Ryder Cup matches and twice beat Arnold Palmer in the singles, had been suffering from Alzheimer’s since 2014.
In a fine career, Oosterhuis topped the European Tour’s Order of Merit four times between 1971 and 1974 and on two occasions was runner up at The Open, having also taken a three-shot lead into the final round of the 1973 Masters.
After retiring from professional golf in the mid-Nineties, Oosterhuis became one of the most popular commentators in the game with CBS in the United States.
A fine story-teller, he once shared a memorable tale from the aftermath of his halved singles match with Lee Trevino in the 1973 Ryder Cup at Muirfield.
Former Ryder Cup player Peter Oosterhuis (pictured center) has died at the age of 75
In a fine career, Oosterhuis (right) topped the European Tour’s Order of Merit four times
Speaking to Golf Digest in 2015, Oosterhuis recalled: ‘Lee told his team-mates, “If I don’t beat Oosterhuis, I’ll come in here and kiss your butts”. Lee didn’t beat me.
‘When he walked in the locker room, (Jack) Nicklaus, Gay Brewer and the other players were waiting, slacks down around their ankles, for the pay-off. Lee didn’t keep his promise.’
Oosterhuis passed away one day short of his 76th birthday.
Former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher, who partnered Oosterhuis in the biennial competition, paid tribute to his former team-mate.
‘This is an incredibly sad day for everyone who was lucky enough to know Peter, but also for the game of golf as a whole,’ Gallacher told the DP World Tour website.
Oosterhuis hits his tee shot at the fifth hole at Royal Lytham & St Annes in the 1977 Ryder Cup
‘I played alongside Peter at boys, youths and senior amateur level all the way through to being his partner in the 1971 Ryder Cup in Missouri, where we combined to beat Lee Trevino and Billy Casper before he went on to win both his singles matches, including beating Arnold Palmer.
‘Peter was an incredibly intelligent golfer, dedicated to his craft and to practice. He excelled in course management and putting which made him a very difficult opponent to get the better of.
‘He was also a very intelligent man and a lovely person to be with in company.
‘I never heard him talk badly of anyone in the decades I knew him and that, alongside his eloquence and deep knowledge of the game, was the reason he was also such a popular and excellent broadcaster.’
