Former European Ryder Cup golfer Gordon Brand Jr dies aged 60
Gordon Brand Jr won eight times on the European Tour, and played in both 1987 and 1989 Ryder Cups.
Former European Ryder Cup golfer Gordon Brand Jr has died aged 60.
Brand Jr played in both 1987 and 1989 Ryder Cup competitions and he was one of the stars on the European Tour during the 1980s.
He was born in Kirkcaldy and his father Gordon Brand Snr was a club professional from Bristol.
Brand Jr's passing comes just two weeks after he was calling Shane Lowry's Open victory at Royal Portrush on the radio.
After turning professional in 1981, Brand Jr quickly achieved success. He won that year's European Tour Qualifying School and then went on to win two European Tour events in his rookie season, with the highlight being his first win at the Coral Classic in Wales when defeating legendary golfer Greg Norman by three strokes.
Brand Jr then went on to accumulate eight wins on the European Tour in total, the last of them in 1993. He also won the 1988 West End South Australian Open.
He made the top ten on the European Tour Order of Merit six times, with a best placing of fourth in 1987.
Brand Jr also enjoyed great success in team events. He played in the 1979 Walker Cup amateur team competition, before going on to make two Ryder Cup appearances in 1987 and 1989.
In 1987, Brand Jr helped Europe win on American soil for the first time, and in 1989, he helped Europe retain the trophy at The Belfry by tying the matches 14-14.
Brand had a 2–4–1 (W-L-H) record in the Ryder Cup, including one tie and one loss in his singles matches.
He also represented Scotland in the amateur Eisenhower Trophy and the professional Alfred Dunhill Cup and World Cup many times.
Brand Jr was recently playing on the over-50s StaySure Tour, and they tweeted the following on Thursday morning: "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Gordon Brand Jnr. Our deepest sympathies are with his family at this time."
He won the Matrix Jersey Classic at La Moye Gold Club on the seniors circuit in 2010, the same venue where he set the course record in 1996 (62) after carding four eagles in one round.
GolfMagic would like to send our deepest sympathies to all his family and friends. RIP Gordon Brand Jr.
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