Christy O'Connor
Name:
Christy O'ConnorAlso known as:
HimselfCountry:
IrelandLived:
[1924-2016]. Born on Dec 21, 1924 in Knocknacarra, Co. Galway. Died on May 14, 2016 in Dublin, aged 91.Original/Home Club:
Galway GC, Galway.Occupation:
Professional golferTurned Pro:
1946Ryder Cup player (1955, '57, '59, '61, '63, '65, '67, '69, '71, '73). Multiple wins on the regular and senior professional tours in the UK and Ireland. Awarded Harry Vardon Trophy as (British) PGA Order of Merit winner (1961, '62). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 2009).
Christy O'Connor worked with his nephew Christy O'Connor Jr on the design of Concra Wood in 2008.
Known as "Himself" amongst his golfing peers, Christy O'Connor was the uncle ( ... not father) of another Irish golfing legend, Christy O'Connor Junior. Although known for most of his career simply as Christy O'Connor, he is usually referred to as Christy O'Connor Sr to avoid confusion with O'Connor Jr. Turning professional in 1946, O'Connor was the Irish professsional champion on 10 occasions, played in every Ryder Cup from 1955 to 1973, and won the Harry Vardon Trophy as the winner of the British Tour's Order of Merit in 1961 and 1962.
Europe
Forte
Played as the Forte PGA Seniors Championship (May 23-26). Second-placed Peter Gill (Eng) finished 9 shots behind Christy O'Connor Snr (Ire). O'Connor won this title for the third straight year, recording the last of his six wins in eight years in the event. [Burnham & Berrow GC, Burnham on Sea, Somerset].
Europe
Forte
Played as the Forte PGA Seniors Championship (May 24-27). Defending champion Christy O'Connor Snr (Ire) beat Guy Wolstenholme (Eng) with a birdie at the fifth playoff hole, to record the fifth of his six wins in this event. Alex Mitchell (Scot) was eliminated at the first playoff hole, and Peter Butler (Eng) at the second. [Longniddry GC, East Lothian].
Europe
Forte
Played as the Forte PGA Seniors Championship (July 21-24). Christy O'Connor Snr (Ire) beat Fred Boobyer (Eng) with a par at the first playoff hole, to record the fourth of his six wins in this event. [North Berwick GC, North Berwick, East Lothian].
Europe
Cambridgeshire Hotel
Played as the PGA Seniors Championship (July 5-8; sponsored by The Express and Cambridgeshire Hotel). Christy O'Connor Snr (Ire) beat Roberto De Vicenzo (Arg) at the second playoff hole, to record his third win in four years in this event. De Vicenzo was runner-up for the third straight year. [Cambridgeshire GC, Bar Hill, nr Cambridge; at the time known as Cambridgeshire Moat House Hotel].
America
x
Played as the World Professional Senior's Golf Championship (Oct 10; 36-hole match between the US and British PGA Senior Champions). Defending champion O'Connor Senior (Ire) beat Julian Boros (USA) 6 and 5. [Bide-a-Wee GC, Portsmouth, Virginia].
Europe
Cambridgeshire Hotel
Played as the PGA Seniors Championship (June 26-29; sponsored by Cambridgeshire Hotel). Second-placed Roberto De Vicenzo (Arg) finished 3 shots behind defending champion Christy O'Connor Snr (Ire). Despite a final round 77 (+5), O'Connor recorded the second of his six wins in this event. [Cambridgeshire GC, Bar Hill, nr Cambridge; at the time known as Cambridgeshire Moat House Hotel].
Europe
Tennent-Caledonian
Played as the World Professional Senior's Golf Championship (July 2; 36-hole match between the US and British PGA Senior Champions). O'Connor Snr (Ire) beat Pete Cooper (USA) 2 and 1. [Whitecraigs GC, Glasgow, East Renfrewshire].
Europe
Ben Sayers/Strathclyde Hotels
Played as the PGA Seniors Championship (June 28-30; sponsored by Ben Sayers and Strathclyde Hotels). Second-placed and defending champion Kel Nagle (Aus) finished 4 shots behind Christy O'Connor Snr (Ire), who recorded the first of his six wins in this event. [North Berwick GC, North Berwick, East Lothian].
Europe
Carroll & Co.
Played as the Carroll's International. Second-placed David Talbot (Eng) finished 4 shots behind O'Connor Snr (Ire). [Woodbrook GC, nr Bray, Co. Wicklow].
Europe
John Player
Played as the inaugural John Player Classic (Sept 3-6). Second-placed Tony Jacklin (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Christy O'Connor Sr (Ire), who won the £25,000 first prize, at the time the richest prize in world golf. [Notts GC, Hollinwell, nr Mansfield, England].
Awards
British PGA
O'Connor (Ire) recorded the season's lowest stroke average on the GB&I PGA Tour, with 71.47. Bernard Hunt (Eng) was second with 71.82; Brian Huggett (Wales) was third with 71.89. Amongst those playing less than 40 rounds on the Tour, Tony Jacklin (Eng) averaged 70.62 over 8 rounds; Billy Casper (USA) 71.35 over 14 rounds, and Cobie Legrange (RSA) 71.65 over 26 rounds.
Europe
Alcan
Played as the Alcan International (Oct 2-5; played alongside the Alcan Golfer of the Year Championship). Bill Large (Eng) and Chisity O'Connor Sr (Ire) finished in a tie for first place. [Royal Birkdale GC, Southport, Merseyside].
Europe
Carroll & Co.
Played as the Carroll's International. Second-placed Tommy Horton (Eng) finished 2 shots behind defending champion O'Connor Snr (Ire). [Woodbrook GC, nr Bray, Co. Wicklow].
Europe
Carroll & Co.
Played as the Carroll's International. Second-placed Eric Brown (Scot) finished 2 shots behind O'Connor Snr (Ire), who recorded an eagle-birdie-eagle finish to win this event for a second time. [Royal Dublin GC, Dollymount, Dublin].
Europe
Jeyes
Played as the Jeyes £3000 Professional-Amateur Tournament (May 21-24). Second-placed Peter Thomson (Aus) finished 1 shot behind Christy O'Connor Snr (Ire). [Cork GC, Co. Cork. Also known as "Little Island"].
Europe
Martini
Played as the £6000 Martini International (Apr 30-May 2). Second-placed Lionel Platts (Eng) finished 6 shots behind defending champion Christy O'Connor Snr (Ire). [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].
Europe
Carroll & Co.
Played as the Carroll Sweet Afton Tournament. O'Connor Snr (Ire) beat Roberto de Vicenzo (Arg) at the second playoff hole. [Woodbrook GC, nr Bray, Co. Wicklow].
Europe
Martini
Played as the £6000 Martini International (May 2-4). Second-placed Neil Coles (Eng) and Christy O'Connor Sr (Ire) finished in a tie for first place. Dai Rees (Wales) finished 2 shots further back in third place. [Royal Liverpool GC, Hoylake, Wirral, Merseyside].
Awards
British PGA
O'Connor (Ire) won his second straight Harry Vardon Trophy as the British PGA Tour 1962 Order of Merit winner. Award based on lowest scoring average in the season's top professional events. O'Connor's 71.25 was based on 40 rounds played.
Awards
British PGA
O'Connor (Ire) won the Harry Vardon Trophy as the British PGA Tour 1961 Order of Merit winner. Award based on lowest scoring average in the season's top professional events. O'Connor's 70.80 was based on 40 rounds played.
Europe
Dunlop
Played as the Dunlop Masters (Sep 17-19). Second-placed Joe Carr (Ire, amateur) and Norman Drew (N.Ire) finished 4 shots behind O'Connor Sr (Ire). [Portmarnock GC, nr Dublin, Ireland].
Europe
Daks
Played as the Daks Tournament. Second-placed Peter Mills (Eng) finished 3 shots behind O'Connor Snr (Ire). [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].
Europe
News of the World
Played as the News of the World Match Play (Sept 11-14). O'Connor (Ire) beat Tom Haliburton (Scot) 5 and 4 in the 36-hole final. [Ailsa course, Turnberry Resort, Ayrshire].
Europe
Spalding
Played as the Spalding £1,350 Tournament (April 18-20; British PGA circuit season-opener). Harry Weetman (Eng) and Christy O'Connor Snr (Ire) finished in a tie for first place. Gary Player (S Africa) was three shots further back in third. [High course, Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth, Herts].
Europe
Dunlop
Played as the Dunlop Masters (Sept 19/20). Second-placed Eric Brown (Scot) finished 1 shot behind Christy O'Connor Sr (Ire). [Prestwick GC, Ayrshire, Scotland].
Europe
Swallow / Penfold
Played as the Swallow-Penfold Tournament. Second-placed Syd Scott (Eng) and Eric Brown (Scot) finished 2 shots behind Christy O'Connor (Ire), who became the first player to win £1,000 for a golf tournament played in Europe. [Southport & Ainsdale GC, Southport, Merseyside].
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