FORMER Ryder Cup captain, Ledbury's own Brian Huggett MBE, has become an internet star at the age of 81, after inspiring this year's successful Ryder Cup team with stirring words in a motivational video.

Mr Huggett, of Ledbury Park, was asked to feature in Team Europe's official motivational video, alongside Sam Torrance and Jose Maria Olazabal, and his own moving contribution was actually filmed at his house.

At one point the video reveals a view of the spire of St Michael and All Angels Church, seen from Mr Huggett's window.

And if Mr Huggett was surprised that the five-strong film crew spent six hours at his home, to get everything just right, he was astonished at the massive impact the video has has, with Youtube lighting up with views and positive comments.

Mr Huggett said: "The crew were so professional, it was unbelievable, and my God they did a wonderful job. I'm quite thrilled with it all. It was a great honour for me, and I understand the video did inspire the team. They thought it was so powerful.

"I didn't learn any lines. The words were mine, really."

And what words they were.

At one point, Mr Huggett, who stopped playing golf aged 74, because of arthritis, says to the camera: "As you get older, things get taken away from you, and that is a part of life...You reflect on the moments that have defined you, both good and bad."

Then came the stirring advice. Mr Huggett, still speaking directly to the camera said to the Europe team: "Outdo what they can do. You wear them down with excellence. Don't leave with any regrets."

At the time of going to press, the video on Youtube had attracted 67,073 views, giving members of the public the chance to "watch the video the European team watched the night before the 2018 Ryder Cup".

And there were 670 positive comments, with one enthusiastic viewer saying: "Wow, so that's where Europe found the fighting spirit. So many truth bombs in just two minutes."

Another viewer said: "Absolute class. The captains got this absolutely spot on. I can see why every player seemed to be giving it their all."

And Mr Huggett's words were singled out for special praise by one viewer who said: "Wear them down with excellence is a perfect description of what the 12 European players did."

This year's Ryder Cup was held in France from September 28 to September 30 on the Albatros Course of Le Golf National in Guyancourt, near Paris. The USA were defending champions, but Europe regained the Ryder Cup, winning by a whopping 17½ points to 10½.

Mr Huggett was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, because of his achievements as a golfer.

He turned professional in 1951 and won sixteen events on the European circuit, including two after the formal start of the European Tour in 1972. In 1970 he was ranked among the top ten players in the world.

Mr Huggett played six times for Great Britain and Ireland in the Ryder Cup, in 1963, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1973 and 1975.

He was Great Britain and Ireland's non-playing captain in 1977, shortly before the Ryder Cup was re-organised, with Mr Huggett's involvement, into its present arrangement: where Europe plays the USA.

He and his wife, Winnie, moved to Ledbury from Ross, three and a half years ago.

"Ledbury is such a lovely town," he said.