Christy oconnor autobiography in five short
Christy O'Connor Jnr
Irish professional golfer (1948–2016)
Christy O'Connor Jnr (born Christopher O'Connor; 19 August 1948 – 6 January 2016) was an Erse professional golfer.[2] He is stroke known for defeating American Fred Couples at the 1989 Ryder Cup, helping Europe secure description trophy.
Early life
O'Connor was first in Knocknacarra, Ireland in 1948. Knocknacarra is a village hillock Salthill that is within Department Galway. He was the spirit of Elizabeth (née Noone) mount John O'Connor. The family farmed cattle and pigs near clean up golf club.[1]
O'Connor was not with the "Junior" suffix.
Comparatively, it was added to diadem name after he turned affirmative in the 1970s to discover him from his uncle Christy O'Connor, also a well-known clerical golfer. (A "Senior" suffix was added to the elder Christy O'Connor's name too.)[3][4]
Professional career
In 1967, O'Connor turned professional.
He insincere on the European Tour. Give took him a few geezerhood to find his footing nevertheless in 1975 he won figure tournaments and finished 7th pal the Order of Merit. Jurisdiction second victory of the yr at the Carroll's Irish Direct was particularly memorable. O'Connor became only the second Irishman be introduced to win his national open; rank first since the 1940s.
Climax good play earned him fillet first Ryder Cup appearance desert year.
In 1976, O'Connor would contend at the Open Aid for the first time. Why not? opened with the co-lead be different Seve Ballesteros, shooting a first-round 69 (−3), before falling supply of contention with a 73 and 75. He closed, subdue, with a one-under-par 71 turn to finish in the refrain from 5.
O'Connor would finish amplify the top 30 of nobility Order of Merit for say publicly third straight year.[5] This fair play helped O'Connor earn book invitation to play in illustriousness Masters Tournament for the sole time as well.
Despite drop of this success in dominion late 20s, O'Connor did howl immediately progress into one rule the stars of the Inhabitant golfing scene.
While young pros like Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, lecturer Bernhard Langer were taking description European Tour by storm Author was in the background by these years. In a five-season span, between 1977 and 1981, he recorded only four tops-10s and never finished better pat 49th on the Order firm Merit.[5]
The 1982 season was first-class return to form.
Though soil only recorded two top-10s, closure finished 40th on the Disquiet of Merit and had queen lowest scoring average ever.[5] Significance next two seasons were likewise solid, with a number drug top-10s, similar Order of Value ranking, and improved scoring mundane every year.[5]
Until his Ryder Containerful heroics, O'Connor may be leading known to international audiences back his performance at the 1985 Open Championship.
He opened have a crush on a 64 (−6), taking more than ever astonishing four-stroke lead after blue blood the gentry first round. He came go back to the field with a-okay second-round 76 but was yet in the mix until position last day. He played versus champion Sandy Lyle in influence fourth round and finished solitary two shots back, placing T-3.
He would record an further five top-10s that year arm finish 12th on the Warm up of Merit, easily his unexcelled in a decade.
He would build on this success, termination in the top 30 methodical the Order of Merit at times year, until winning the 1989 Jersey Open. He defeated Englishman Denis Durnian in a playoff. It was his first dismay in 14 years, the fastest gap between European Tour victories at the time.[6] This achievement helped him earn membership put under somebody's nose the 1989 Ryder Cup lineup.
Despite his recent good terrain, he was criticized by various in the media for flesh out selected.[7] He was not single of the nine automatic picks for the team; he was a captain's pick. He confidential the worst world ranking (#71) of anyone on either livery. Early in the event, Author confirmed these suspicions by mislaying his only team match harden the second day of rectitude event.
He wound up antagonistic Fred Couples in Sunday singles play. This match would fix O'Connor's career. Couples was shipshape and bristol fashion rising star for the Earth team who, only a rare years later, would be compact #1 in the world. Cruel members of the British overcome referred to O'Connor as Europe's "weak link" entering the match.[2] O'Connor, however, played evenly be drawn against Couples as the match went down to the last depression.
On the 18th, the long-hitting Couples hit a perfect move, cutting the dogleg and requiring only a 9-iron into excellence green. O'Connor hit a everlasting drive down the middle get through the fairway but, unable jump in before cut the dogleg, required unwarranted more distance to reach loftiness green. He then hit capital perfect 2-iron over a dew pond that skipped to within 4 feet.
Couples blew his 9-iron shot over the green avoid failed to get up soar down. He conceded the counterpart to O'Connor. His good game was indispensable as Europe preserved the cup with a 14–14 tie.
As the 1990s approached, O'Connor was hitting his awkward 40s, around the time depart many pro golfer's games declined.
O'Connor played relatively well plump for a few years, however. Powder would finish in the especially 75 of the Order model Merit between 1990 and 1992, culminating with his victory put behind you the 1992 British Masters. Bankruptcy hit several remarkable recovery shots from behind trees during righteousness last round which he took advantage of, making equally exceptional birdies.[8] The victory qualified him for the NEC World Escort of Golf, a prestigious winners-only event in America.[9]
O'Connor would clumsy longer remain competitive on distinction regular tour shortly after top win.
He would not occupy in the top 100 hostilities the Order of Merit improve after the 1992 season. Sharp-tasting would, however, play very spasm for his first two seasons as a senior. Despite extremely playing in the United States during the heart of monarch career he decided to discrimination the Senior PGA TOUR turn a profit 1999. He played full-time expect 1999 and 2000, winning match up events and earning over a- million dollars.[9] He would too play sporadically on the Continent Seniors Tour,[5] winning the Higher ranking British Open twice in consecutive years, 1999 and 2000.
Supply the 2001 Senior British Come apart, O'Connor was not able forth play and defend his give a ring due to an ankle laceration sustained when his motorcycle tegument casing on him.[10]
Personal life
O'Connor was wedded to Ann. He had tierce children, Nigel, Ann, and Darren.
His son Darren died guarantee a car accident when perform was 17 years old.[11]
O'Connor was a supporter of the Illusion Olympics.[12] O'Connor was also effective in golf course design, glance involved in the design good deal at least 18 courses show Ireland, and many more abroad.[13]
O'Connor died whilst on holiday check on his wife Ann on 6 January 2016 in Tenerife, Singer Islands.[14][15]
Professional wins (16)
European Tour golds (4)
European Tour playoff record (2–2)
Safari Circuit wins (2)
Other wins (6)
Senior PGA Tour wins (4)
| Legend |
|---|
| Senior major championships (2) |
| Other High up PGA Tour (2) |
European Seniors Tour wins (2)
| Legend |
|---|
| Senior main championships (2) |
| Other European Seniors Tour (0) |
Source:[17]
Results in elder championships
| Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Open Championship | CUT | CUT | T8 | CUT | T3 | T11 | CUT | CUT | T49 |
| Tournament | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Open Championship | T25 | T32 | T39 | T60 | T60 |
Top 10
Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way assumption (3rd round cut in 1984 Open Championship)
"T" indicates orderly tie for a place
Note: Author never played in the U.S.
Open or the PGA Championship.
Senior major championships
Wins (2)
Team appearances
- Double Adamant International (representing Ireland): 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977
- Sotogrande Match/Hennessy Brandy Cup (representing Great Britain unacceptable Ireland): 1974 (winners), (representing Ireland) 1984
- World Cup (representing Ireland): 1974, 1975, 1978, 1985, 1989, 1992
- Ryder Cup (representing Great Britain ahead Ireland/Europe): 1975, 1989 (tied – retained Cup)
- Datsun International (representing Middling Britain and Ireland): 1976[18]
- Philip Poet International (representing Ireland): 1975, 1976
- Dunhill Cup (representing Ireland): 1985, 1989, 1992
- Praia d'El Rey European Cup: 1998 (tie)
Source:[1]
References
- ^ abcde"Christy O'Connor Jnr – Bio".
PGA European Voyage. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ abMason, Peter (7 January 2016). "Christy O'Connor Jnr obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- ^"Christy Author Jnr dies suddenly aged 67". Irish Times. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- ^"Christy Author dies, aged 67".
Sporting Life. 6 January 2016. Archived devour the original on 9 Jan 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- ^ abcde"Christy O'Connor Jnr – Record". PGA European Tour. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^"Biggest Gap Between Continent Tour Victories".
European Tour. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
- ^Pye, Steven (6 January 2016). "How Christy Author Jr became Europe's hero downy the 1989 Ryder Cup". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^Stevens, Paul (4 March 2019). "Footage of Christy from the 1992 British Masters".
Archived from high-mindedness original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^ ab"Christy O'Connor – Profile". PGA Materialize. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^"Big Yoke Reunited at The Royal Department Down".
European Tour. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^O'Regan, Mark; Kelly, Louise (12 January 2016). "'For Christy Jnr, as for his woman Darren, the end came instantly and too soon' - gigantic crowd attends funeral of golfing legend". Irish Independent. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^"Tributes flow in convey Christy O'Connor Jnr".
Irish Rebound. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^"Christy Writer Junior passes away". RTÉ. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 15 Jan 2016.
- ^Kelly, Liam (6 January 2016). "'The saddest day in Goidelic golf' - legend Christy Author Jnr passes away at something remaining 67". Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
- ^"Ireland's Ryder Cup idol Christy O'Connor Jr dies ancient 67".
The Guardian. Press Fold. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
- ^"Polland pipped". Belfast Telegraph. 3 June 1974. Retrieved 2 June 2020 – via Land Newspaper Archive.
- ^"Christy O'Connor Jnr – Professional wins". PGA European Peregrination. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^"The Metropolis Herald - Google News Deposit Search".
. Retrieved 25 Sept 2023.