ST HELENS-BORN former Ryder Cup golfer Tommy Horton has died aged 76, according to BBC reports.

Tommy, who lived in Jersey, played for Great Britain and Ireland in the 1975 and 1977 Ryder Cups - both of which were won by the United States.

He also won four European Tour events in his career and then 23 events on the European Seniors Tour. He topped its money list in 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999.

In the 2000 New Year Honours, Tommy was awarded an MBE for services to golf, and he was made an honorary life member of the European Tour in 2012.

Tommy was taken ill at the Royal Jersey Golf Club on Thursday and died shortly afterwards in hospital.