American golfing legend William Campbell dies aged 90

William Campbell, a former US Amateur champion who played on eight Walker Cup teams and later served two years as president of the US Golf Association, has died.

The USGA said Campbell died at his home, aged 90, in Lewisburg, W.Va. Campbell was USGA president from 1982-83 and served on its executive committee for 10 years.

In 1987 he became only the third American to be elected captain of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club in St Andrews, and the only man to have led both of golf’s governing bodies.

Campbell served in the army during the Second World War, graduated from Princeton in 1947 and remained an amateur golfer for his entire career.

He competed in the US Amateur for 33 straight years, winning in 1964. He also won the US Senior Amateur twice and the North & South Amateur four times.

Campbell played on eight Walker Cup teams from 1951 to 1975, never losing a singles match and never playing on a losing team. He was the playing captain in 1955.

As an amateur, he had 14 appearances in the US Open and 17 appearances in the Masters.

“Mr Campbell was one of the game’s great champions and finest gentlemen,” USGA executive director Mike Davis said.