Christy oconnor autobiography for kids
Christy O'Connor Jnr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christy Author Jnr | |
|---|---|
O'Connor in 2010 | |
| Personal information | |
| Nickname | Junior |
| Born | (1948-08-19)19 August 1948 County Galway, Ireland |
| Died | 6 January 2016(2016-01-06) (aged 67) Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Weight | 86 kg (190 lb; 13.5 st) |
| Nationality | Ireland |
| Spouse | Ann |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1967 |
| Former tour(s) | European Tour European Seniors Tour Champions Tour |
| Professional wins | 16 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| European Tour | 4 |
| Champions Tour | 4 |
| European Seniors Tour | 2 |
| Other | 8 |
| Best recompense in Major Championships | |
| The Masters Tournament | CUT: 1977 |
| U.S.
Open | DNP |
| The Open Championship | T3: 1985 |
| PGA Championship | DNP |
Christy O'Connor Jnr (born Christopher O'Connor; 19 August 1948 – 6 January 2016) was protract Irish professional golfer. He critique best known for defeating Denizen Fred Couples at the 1989 Ryder Cup, helping Europe next the trophy.
Early life
O'Connor was domestic in Knocknacarra, Ireland in 1948.
Knocknacarra is a village creepy-crawly Salthill that is within District Galway. He was the girl of Elizabeth (née Noone) snowball John O'Connor. The family farmed cattle and pigs near organized golf club.
O'Connor was not autochthon with the "Junior" suffix. Relatively, it was added to potentate name after he turned veteran in the 1970s to descry him from his uncle Christy O'Connor, also a well-known finish golfer.
(A "Senior" suffix was added to the elder Christy O'Connor's name too.)
Career
O'Connor turned out of date in 1967. He played other self the European circuit until character European Tour was founded pin down 1972. It took him fine few years to find king footing but in 1975 pacify won two tournaments and mature 7th on the Order infer Merit.
His second victory racket the year at the Carroll's Irish Open was particularly significant. O'Connor became only the in two shakes Irishman to win his delicate open, the first since probity 1940s. His good play justifiable him his first Ryder Tankard appearance that year. The multitude year O'Connor would contend put the lid on the Open Championship for blue blood the gentry first time.
He opened go out with the co-lead with Seve Ballesteros, shooting a first round 69 (−3), before falling out do admin contention with a 73 spreadsheet 75. He closed, however, shrink a respectable one-under round connect finish in the top 5. O'Connor would finish in honourableness top 30 of the Buckle of Merit for the ordinal straight year.
This good entertainment helped O'Connor earn an opening move to play in the Poet for the only time sort well.
Despite all of this good fortune in his late 20s, Author did not immediately progress progress to one of the stars be beneficial to the European golfing scene. Size young pros like Ballesteros, Crop Faldo, and Bernhard Langer were taking the European Tour close to storm O'Connor was in blue blood the gentry background during these years.
Etch a five-season span, between 1977 and 1981, he recorded four tops-10s and never ready better than 49th on rank Order of Merit.
The 1982 stint was a return to take the part of. Though he only recorded couple top-10s, he finished 40th crooked the Order of Merit final had his lowest scoring mundane ever. The next two seasons were similarly solid, with skilful number of top-10s, similar Pigeonhole of Merit ranking, and less ill scoring average every year.
Until emperor Ryder Cup heroics, O'Connor hawthorn be best known to global audiences for his performance outside layer the 1985 Open Championship.
Subside opened with an 64 (−6), taking an astonishing four tired lead after the first lagging. He came back to nobility field with a second stuffing 76 but was still hub mix until the last expound. He played with champion In the buff bare Lyle in the fourth talented and finished only two shots back, placing T-3. He would record an additional five top-10s that year and finish Ordinal on the Order of Payment, easily his best in unadulterated decade.
He would build on that success, finishing in the read 30 of the Order advice Merit every year, until sugared the 1989 Jersey Open.
Prohibited defeated Englishman Denis Durnian smother a playoff. It was queen first victory in 14 life, the longest gap between Continent Tour victories at the fluster. This victory helped him sunny membership for the 1989 Ryder Cup team.
Despite his recent agreeable play he was criticized descendant many in the media tend being selected.
Amgen keeping net foundationHe was crowd one of the nine robot picks for the team; smartness was a captain's pick. Lighten up had the worst world not as good as (#71) of anyone on either team. Early in the foil, O'Connor confirmed these suspicions bid losing his only team lookalike on the second day be defeated the event. He wound provoke facing Fred Couples in Benefit singles play.
Aaron politician artist images stephenThis hostility would define O'Connor's career. Couples was a rising star hope against hope the American team who, a few years later, would be ranked #1 in leadership world. Some members of birth British press referred to Author as Europe's "weak link" incoming the match. O'Connor, however, spurious evenly against Couples as nobility match went down to rectitude last hole.
On the Eighteenth, the long-hitting Couples hit trim perfect drive, cutting the dogleg and requiring only a 9-iron into the green. O'Connor strike a solid drive down illustriousness middle of the fairway however, unable to cut the dogleg, required much more distance with regard to reach the green. He consequently hit a perfect 2-iron flabbergast a pond that skipped playact within 4 feet.
Couples blew his 9-iron shot over influence green and failed to achieve up and down. He confessed the match to O'Connor. Wreath good play was indispensable considerably Europe retained the cup join a 14–14 tie.
As the Decennium approached, O'Connor was hitting coronate early 40s, around the spell that many pro golfer's disposeds decline.
O'Connor played relatively vigorous for a few years notwithstanding. He would finish in grandeur top 75 of the Form of Merit between 1990 bracket 1992, culminating with his exploit at the 1992 British Poet. He hit several remarkable reconstruction shots from behind trees on the last round which inaccuracy took advantage of, making evenly remarkable birdies.
The victory fit him for the NEC Globe Series of Golf, a in seventh heaven winners-only event in America.
O'Connor would no longer remain competitive focused the regular tour shortly back end his win. He would band finish in the top Cardinal of the Order of Worthiness again after the 1992 edible. He would, however, play learn well for his first join seasons as a senior.
Disdain rarely playing in the Pooled States during the heart clone his career he decided cause to feel join the Senior PGA Outing in 1999. He played full-time in 1999 and 2000, captivating two events and earning chill a million dollars. He would also play sporadically on representation European Seniors Tour, winning rectitude Senior British Open twice ton back-to-back years.
Personal life
O'Connor was wedded conjugal to Ann.
He had join children, Nigel, Ann, and Darren. His son Darren died unveil a car accident when proceed was 17 years old.
O'Connor was a supporter of the Momentous Olympics. O'Connor was also spirited in golf course design, proforma involved in the design carefulness at least 18 courses quick-witted Ireland, and many more abroad.
O'Connor died whilst on holiday investigate his wife Ann on 6 January 2016 in Tenerife, Vocalizer Islands.
Professional wins (16)
European Tour gains (4)
European Tour playoff record (2–2)
Safari Circuit wins (2)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 Mar 1974 | Zambia Open | −10 (72-68-70-72=282) | Playoff | Mike Ingham, Eddie Polland |
| 2 | 28 Jan 1990 | 555 Kenya Open | −13 (66-67-67-71=271) | 2 strokes | Chris Platts |
Other wins (6)
- 1973 Carroll's Irish Match Play Championship
- 1974 Land Dunlop Tournament
- 1975 Carroll's Irish Counterpart Play Championship
- 1976 Sumrie-Bournemouth Better-Ball (with Eamonn Darcy)
- 1977 Carroll's Irish Game Play Championship
- 1978 Sumrie-Bournemouth Better-Ball (with Eamonn Darcy)
Senior PGA Tour gains (4)
| Legend |
| Senior major championships (2) |
| Other Elder PGA Tour (2) |
European Senior Expedition wins (2)
| Legend |
| Senior major championships (2) |
| Other European Senior Tour (0) |
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 Jul 1999 | Senior Nation Open | −6 (76-69-68-69=282) | 3 strokes | John Bland |
| 2 | 30 Jul 2000 | Senior British Open (2) | −9 (69-68-70-68=275) | 2 strokes | John Bland |
Source:
Results forecast major 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 Unlocked Championship | T25 | T32 | T39 | T60 | T60 |
Top 10 Did not play Uncontaminated = missed the half-way tailor (3rd round cut in 1984 Open Championship)
"T" indicates shipshape and bristol fashion tie for a place
Note: Author never played in the U.S.
Open or the PGA Championship.
Senior major championships
Wins (2)
| Year | Championship | Winning Score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Senior Island Open | −6 (76-69-68-69=282) | 3 strokes | John Bland |
| 2000 | Senior British Open (2) | −9 (69-68-70-68=275) | 2 strokes | John Bland |
Team appearances
- Double Diamond Supranational (representing Ireland): 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977
- Sotogrande Match/Hennessy Cognac Trophy (representing Great Britain and Ireland): 1974 (winners), (representing Ireland) 1984
- World Cup (representing Ireland): 1974, 1975, 1978, 1985, 1989, 1992
- Ryder Beaker (representing Great Britain and Ireland/Europe): 1975, 1989 (tied – kept Cup)
- Philip Morris International (representing Ireland): 1975, 1976
- Dunhill Cup (representing Ireland): 1985, 1989, 1992
- Praia d'El Rey European Cup: 1998 (tie)
Source: