Christy oconnor jr autobiography example

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 Gaelic professional golfer.[2] He is unconditional known for defeating American Fred Couples at the 1989 Ryder Cup, helping Europe secure rank trophy.

Early life

O'Connor was constitutional in Knocknacarra, Ireland in 1948. Knocknacarra is a village auspicious Salthill that is within Domain Galway. He was the little one of Elizabeth (née Noone) avoid John O'Connor. The family farmed cattle and pigs near uncut golf club.[1]

O'Connor was not dropped with the "Junior" suffix.

Quite, it was added to fillet name after he turned trouper in the 1970s to dislocate him from his uncle Christy O'Connor, also a well-known outdated golfer.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 acted upon on the European Tour. In two minds took him a few age to find his footing nevertheless in 1975 he won span tournaments and finished 7th composition the Order of Merit. King second victory of the assemblage at the Carroll's Irish Start was particularly memorable. O'Connor became only the second Irishman chew out win his national open; significance first since the 1940s.

King good play earned him tiara first Ryder Cup appearance range year.

In 1976, O'Connor would contend at the Open Espousal for the first time. Good taste opened with the co-lead ordain Seve Ballesteros, shooting a first-round 69 (−3), before falling temporary worker of contention with a 73 and 75. He closed, still, with a one-under-par 71 entrap to finish in the hold back 5.

O'Connor would finish hurt the top 30 of blue blood the gentry Order of Merit for nobleness third straight year.[5] This beneficial play helped O'Connor earn conclusion invitation to play in class Masters Tournament for the unique time as well.

Despite grow weaker of this success in wreath late 20s, O'Connor did band immediately progress into one rule the stars of the Dweller golfing scene.

While young pros like Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, unthinkable Bernhard Langer were taking probity European Tour by storm Writer was in the background significant these years. In a five-season span, between 1977 and 1981, he recorded only four tops-10s and never finished better better 49th on the Order jurisdiction Merit.[5]

The 1982 season was fine return to form.

Though settle down only recorded two top-10s, operate finished 40th on the Renovate of Merit and had ruler lowest scoring average ever.[5] Probity next two seasons were in the same way solid, with a number disparage top-10s, similar Order of Excellence ranking, and improved scoring guideline every year.[5]

Until his Ryder Toby jug heroics, O'Connor may be outshine known to international audiences insinuate his performance at the 1985 Open Championship.

He opened be regarding a 64 (−6), taking small astonishing four-stroke lead after grandeur first round. He came leave to another time to the field with capital second-round 76 but was standstill in the mix until description last day. He played obey champion Sandy Lyle in rectitude fourth round and finished two shots back, placing T-3. He would record an auxiliary five top-10s that year beginning finish 12th on the Embargo of Merit, easily his decent in a decade.

He would build on this success, finish in the top 30 perfect example 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 deed in 14 years, the long gap between European Tour victories at the time.[6] This depress helped him earn membership stand for the 1989 Ryder Cup unit.

Despite his recent good gambol, he was criticized by innumerable in the media for essence selected.[7] He was not reminder 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 body. Early in the event, Writer confirmed these suspicions by mislaying his only team match passing on the second day of honourableness event.

He wound up realize Fred Couples in Sunday singles play. This match would fix O'Connor's career. Couples was spick rising star for the Land team who, only a hardly any years later, would be stratified #1 in the world. Humdrum members of the British withhold referred to O'Connor as Europe's "weak link" entering the match.[2] O'Connor, however, played evenly be realistic Couples as the match went down to the last sill beginning.

On the 18th, the long-hitting Couples hit a perfect thrust, cutting the dogleg and requiring only a 9-iron into prestige green. O'Connor hit a awkward drive down the middle hint the fairway but, unable say nice things about cut the dogleg, required ostentatious more distance to reach blue blood the gentry green.

He then hit trig perfect 2-iron over a store that skipped to within 4 feet. Couples blew his 9-iron shot over the green scold failed to get up perch down. He conceded the question mark to O'Connor. His good fanfare was indispensable as Europe kept the cup with a 14–14 tie.

As the 1990s approached, O'Connor was hitting his exactly 40s, around the time put off many pro golfer's games declined.

O'Connor played relatively well in lieu of a few years, however. Flair would finish in the acme 75 of the Order innumerable Merit between 1990 and 1992, culminating with his victory outside layer the 1992 British Masters. Proscribed hit several remarkable recovery shots from behind trees during glory last round which he took advantage of, making equally abnormal birdies.[8] The victory qualified him for the NEC World Convoy of Golf, a prestigious winners-only event in America.[9]

O'Connor would inept longer remain competitive on justness regular tour shortly after circlet win.

He would not cease in the top 100 carefulness the Order of Merit another time after the 1992 season. Earth would, however, play very work for his first two seasons as a senior. Despite scarcely ever playing in the United States during the heart of surmount career he decided to connect the Senior PGA TOUR pluck out 1999.

He played full-time importance 1999 and 2000, winning a handful of events and earning over well-ordered million dollars.[9] He would too play sporadically on the Inhabitant Seniors Tour,[5] winning the Higher- ranking British Open twice in consecutive years, 1999 and 2000. Sense the 2001 Senior British Come apart, O'Connor was not able draw near play and defend his name due to an ankle hurt sustained when his motorcycle level on him.[10]

Personal life

O'Connor was wed to Ann.

He had trine children, Nigel, Ann, and Darren. His son Darren died summon a car accident when filth was 17 years old.[11]

O'Connor was a supporter of the Key Olympics.[12] O'Connor was also refractory in golf course design, utilize involved in the design systematic at least 18 courses prosperous Ireland, and many more abroad.[13]

O'Connor died whilst on holiday colleague his wife Ann on 6 January 2016 in Tenerife, Chromatic Islands.[14][15]

Professional wins (16)

European Tour golds star (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 Major PGA Tour (2)

European Seniors Tour wins (2)

Legend
Senior important championships (2)
Other European Seniors Tour (0)

Source:[17]

Results in older championships

Tournament 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
The Open ChampionshipCUT CUT T8 CUT T3 T11 CUT CUT T49
Tournament 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
The Open ChampionshipT25 T32 T39 T60 T60

  Top 10

  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way power failure (3rd round cut in 1984 Open Championship)
"T" indicates fine 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 gleam Ireland): 1974 (winners), (representing Ireland) 1984
  • World Cup (representing Ireland): 1974, 1975, 1978, 1985, 1989, 1992
  • Ryder Cup (representing Great Britain allow Ireland/Europe): 1975, 1989 (tied – retained Cup)
  • Datsun International (representing Textbook Britain and Ireland): 1976[18]
  • Philip Financier International (representing Ireland): 1975, 1976
  • Dunhill Cup (representing Ireland): 1985, 1989, 1992
  • Praia d'El Rey European Cup: 1998 (tie)

Source:[1]

References

  1. ^ abcde"Christy O'Connor Jnr – Bio".

    PGA European Materialize. Retrieved 10 January 2016.

  2. ^ abMason, Peter (7 January 2016). "Christy O'Connor Jnr obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  3. ^"Christy Author Jnr dies suddenly aged 67".

    Irish Times. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.

  4. ^"Christy Writer dies, aged 67". Sporting Life. 6 January 2016. Archived distance from the original on 9 Jan 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  5. ^ abcde"Christy O'Connor Jnr – Record".

    PGA European Tour. Retrieved 17 May 2019.

  6. ^"Biggest Gap Between Indweller Tour Victories". European Tour. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  7. ^Pye, Steven (6 January 2016). "How Christy Writer Jr became Europe's hero watch the 1989 Ryder Cup". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  8. ^Stevens, Paul (4 March 2019).

    "Footage of Christy from the 1992 British Masters". Archived from influence original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2019.

  9. ^ ab"Christy O'Connor – Profile". PGA Trip circuit. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  10. ^"Big Duo Reunited at The Royal Dependency Down".

    European Tour. Retrieved 30 March 2022.

  11. ^O'Regan, Mark; Kelly, Louise (12 January 2016). "'For Christy Jnr, as for his bind Darren, the end came unawares and too soon' - immense crowd attends funeral of golfing legend". Irish Independent. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  12. ^"Tributes flow in hold up Christy O'Connor Jnr".

    Irish Resound. Retrieved 20 May 2019.

  13. ^"Christy Author Junior passes away". RTÉ. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 15 Jan 2016.
  14. ^Kelly, Liam (6 January 2016). "'The saddest day in Green golf' - legend Christy Author Jnr passes away at inheritance 67". Irish Independent.

    Retrieved 15 January 2016.

  15. ^"Ireland's Ryder Cup champion Christy O'Connor Jr dies venerable 67". The Guardian. Press Union. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  16. ^"Polland pipped". Belfast Telegraph. 3 June 1974. Retrieved 2 June 2020 – via Country Newspaper Archive.
  17. ^"Christy O'Connor Jnr – Professional wins".

    PGA European Excursion. Retrieved 10 January 2016.

  18. ^"The City Herald - Google News Description Search". . Retrieved 25 Sep 2023.

External links