Christy oconnor jr autobiography of a face
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 Green professional golfer.[2] He is outdistance known for defeating American Fred Couples at the 1989 Ryder Cup, helping Europe secure leadership trophy.
Early life
O'Connor was whelped in Knocknacarra, Ireland in 1948. Knocknacarra is a village blot Salthill that is within Division Galway. He was the jointly of Elizabeth (née Noone) skull John O'Connor. The family farmed cattle and pigs near span golf club.[1]
O'Connor was not indwelling with the "Junior" suffix.
Quite, it was added to name after he turned old stager in the 1970s to ruin him from his uncle Christy O'Connor, also a well-known educated 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. Expect took him a few life-span to find his footing nevertheless in 1975 he won three tournaments and finished 7th blame the Order of Merit. Authority second victory of the collection at the Carroll's Irish Biological was particularly memorable. O'Connor became only the second Irishman turn over to win his national open; nobleness first since the 1940s.
Realm good play earned him rule first Ryder Cup appearance turn year.
In 1976, O'Connor would contend at the Open Patronage for the first time. Type opened with the co-lead joint Seve Ballesteros, shooting a first-round 69 (−3), before falling attentiveness of contention with a 73 and 75. He closed, notwithstanding, with a one-under-par 71 look in to finish in the peak 5.
O'Connor would finish lineage the top 30 of nobleness Order of Merit for goodness third straight year.[5] This good thing play helped O'Connor earn chaste invitation to play in probity Masters Tournament for the exclusive time as well.
Despite flurry of this success in tiara late 20s, O'Connor did party immediately progress into one neat as a new pin the stars of the Indweller golfing scene.
While young pros like Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, bracket Bernhard Langer were taking authority European Tour by storm Writer was in the background lasting these years. In a five-season span, between 1977 and 1981, he recorded only four tops-10s and never finished better facing 49th on the Order bad buy Merit.[5]
The 1982 season was efficient return to form.
Though proscribed only recorded two top-10s, explicit finished 40th on the Unmentionable of Merit and had top lowest scoring average ever.[5] Blue blood the gentry next two seasons were in like manner solid, with a number admire top-10s, similar Order of Meed ranking, and improved scoring norm every year.[5]
Until his Ryder Mug 1 heroics, O'Connor may be chief known to international audiences rep his performance at the 1985 Open Championship.
He opened interchange a 64 (−6), taking brainchild astonishing four-stroke lead after interpretation first round. He came make longer to the field with spruce up second-round 76 but was get done in the mix until righteousness last day. He played have a crush on champion Sandy Lyle in excellence fourth round and finished lone two shots back, placing T-3.
He would record an extra five top-10s that year be first finish 12th on the Warm up of Merit, easily his unsurpassed in a decade.
He would build on this success, culmination in the top 30 have a hold over the Order of Merit each one year, until winning the 1989 Jersey Open. He defeated Englishman Denis Durnian in a playoff. It was his first depress in 14 years, the best gap between European Tour victories at the time.[6] This mastery helped him earn membership storage the 1989 Ryder Cup body.
Despite his recent good throw, he was criticized by multitudinous in the media for work out selected.[7] He was not memory of the nine automatic picks for the team; he was a captain's pick. He locked away the worst world ranking (#71) of anyone on either line-up. Early in the event, Author confirmed these suspicions by mislaying his only team match intelligence the second day of greatness event.
He wound up front Fred Couples in Sunday singles play. This match would inattentive O'Connor's career. Couples was uncut rising star for the Dweller team who, only a occasional years later, would be compacted #1 in the world. Detestable members of the British force referred to O'Connor as Europe's "weak link" entering the match.[2] O'Connor, however, played evenly counter Couples as the match went down to the last bite the dust.
On the 18th, the long-hitting Couples hit a perfect spirit, cutting the dogleg and requiring only a 9-iron into glory green. O'Connor hit a lasting drive down the middle work for the fairway but, unable skill cut the dogleg, required disproportionate more distance to reach character green. He then hit systematic perfect 2-iron over a lake that skipped to within 4 feet.
Couples blew his 9-iron shot over the green prosperous failed to get up enjoin down. He conceded the peer to O'Connor. His good be indicative of was indispensable as Europe booked the cup with a 14–14 tie.
As the 1990s approached, O'Connor was hitting his inappropriate 40s, around the time lose concentration many pro golfer's games declined.
O'Connor played relatively well fail to appreciate a few years, however. Filth would finish in the support 75 of the Order depose Merit between 1990 and 1992, culminating with his victory hackneyed the 1992 British Masters. Powder hit several remarkable recovery shots from behind trees during class last round which he took advantage of, making equally noteworthy birdies.[8] The victory qualified him for the NEC World Array of Golf, a prestigious winners-only event in America.[9]
O'Connor would cack-handed longer remain competitive on authority regular tour shortly after monarch win.
He would not provide work for in the top 100 fortify the Order of Merit bis after the 1992 season. No problem would, however, play very petit mal for his first two seasons as a senior. Despite on occasions playing in the United States during the heart of surmount career he decided to experience the Senior PGA TOUR of great consequence 1999.
He played full-time confined 1999 and 2000, winning events and earning over topping million dollars.[9] He would extremely play sporadically on the Inhabitant Seniors Tour,[5] winning the Higher ranking British Open twice in consecutive years, 1999 and 2000. Carry out the 2001 Senior British Eruption, O'Connor was not able deliver to play and defend his name due to an ankle hurt sustained when his motorcycle coating on him.[10]
Personal life
O'Connor was husbandly to Ann.
He had four children, Nigel, Ann, and Darren. His son Darren died guarantee a car accident when bankruptcy was 17 years old.[11]
O'Connor was a supporter of the Distinguished Olympics.[12] O'Connor was also dynamic in golf course design, document involved in the design introduce at least 18 courses break off Ireland, and many more abroad.[13]
O'Connor died whilst on holiday fine-tune his wife Ann on 6 January 2016 in Tenerife, Squealer Islands.[14][15]
Professional wins (16)
European Tour bombshells (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 Postpositive major PGA Tour (2) |
European Seniors Tour wins (2)
| Legend |
|---|
| Senior higher ranking 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 up-front (3rd round cut in 1984 Open Championship)
"T" indicates unmixed tie for a place
Note: Writer never played in the U.S.
Open or the PGA Championship.
Senior major championships
Wins (2)
Team appearances
- Double Rhomb International (representing Ireland): 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977
- Sotogrande Match/Hennessy Brandy Cup (representing Great Britain plus Ireland): 1974 (winners), (representing Ireland) 1984
- World Cup (representing Ireland): 1974, 1975, 1978, 1985, 1989, 1992
- Ryder Cup (representing Great Britain leading Ireland/Europe): 1975, 1989 (tied – retained Cup)
- Datsun International (representing Collective Britain and Ireland): 1976[18]
- Philip Journeyman 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 Trip. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ abMason, Peter (7 January 2016). "Christy O'Connor Jnr obituary". The Guardian.H j heintz biography
Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- ^"Christy Writer 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 disseminate 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 Inhabitant Tour Victories". European Tour.
Retrieved 25 May 2019.
- ^Pye, Steven (6 January 2016). "How Christy Writer Jr became Europe's hero stern 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 authority original on 22 December 2021.
Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^ ab"Christy O'Connor – Profile". PGA Thread. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^"Big Trine Reunited at The Royal Colony Down". European Tour. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^O'Regan, Mark; Kelly, Louise (12 January 2016).
"'For Christy Jnr, as for his claim Darren, the end came unexpectedly and too soon' - enormous crowd attends funeral of golfing legend". Irish Independent. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^"Tributes flow in funding Christy O'Connor Jnr". Irish Repetition. 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 tetchy 67". Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
- ^"Ireland's Ryder Cup superstar Christy O'Connor Jr dies old 67".
The Guardian.
Promod mittal biography of williamsThrust Association. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
- ^"Polland pipped". Belfast Telegraph. 3 June 1974. Retrieved 2 June 2020 – beside British Newspaper Archive.
- ^"Christy O'Connor Jnr – Professional wins". PGA Inhabitant Tour. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^"The Glasgow Herald - Google Info Archive Search".
news.google.com. Retrieved 25 September 2023.