Irish Sports
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RIP a true giant of Irish sport -a man of consummate skill and engaging personality.
Pity he wasn't born a generation later when his world exposure would have been so much greater but he still leaves a formidable record.
A man for whom the word 'legend' might have been invented.
Pity he wasn't born a generation later when his world exposure would have been so much greater but he still leaves a formidable record.
A man for whom the word 'legend' might have been invented.
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I borrowed a few stats from Wiki, O'Connor won the first £1,000 prize to be offered in British golf at the Swallow-Penfold Tournament held in 1955. O'Connor's numerous tournament wins included the 1956 and 1959 British Masters. He also helped Ireland to win the Canada Cup in 1958 playing with Harry Bradshaw. O'Connor played in every Ryder Cup from 1955 to 1973, setting a record of ten appearances in the event which stood until it was surpassed by Nick Faldo in 1997. He was Irish professional champion on ten occasions, including in 1978 (when he was 53), and was twice (1961 and 1962) recipient of the Vardon Trophy for leading the British Tour's Order of Merit.[2] O'Connor tied for second place with Brian Huggett at The Open Championship in 1965, behind five-time winner Peter Thomson.[3] In 1970, he won the John Player Classic, at that time its £25,000 first prize was the richest offered in golf (in those days, even the British Open champion received just a little over £5,000), it made him that season's leading money-winner, although not Order of Merit leader, which was decided by a points system not directly related to prize money. There might be a couple of us who the irish forum who remember Christy Snr , R.I.P
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Wouldn't surprise me if the redoubtable kelly might have met the great man or has a good story about him.
I can't recall the exact details but the gist of a story I heard is that on one occasion Christy Snr. was playing in a group with a typical 'knowall' ( we've all met such a character!)who queried Christy's choice of iron for an approach shot whereupon Christy ran through the whole range of irons and put the ball on the green with every club. End of discussion!  |
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2 MIN Tribute to Christy O'Connor SCR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxmeumnRAXY
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I think Christy was the pro at Castlebar in his early days and my uncle knew him well (pro at Castlebar sounds improbable).
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Met him briefly after a round in my club , a friend of mine had the courage to ask for his autograph ,Christy humbly give it ,and inquired how his round had gone ,my friend came back to our table brimming over with pride , a true gentleman was Christy.
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Sadly I never met him , Vubiant . RIP. Himself .
Watched him on many occasions though , he always came north when there was a decent tournament to play in . Fierce competitor , brilliant wind player . One day he was playing in Bangor , finished up late at night in some hostelry ,our licensing laws were not to his liking . Local police sergeant ( big golf fan ) drove him around for a good while until he was fitter and black coffeed . Then took him back to his hotel . Next day he went out and broke the course record . Watched him one day playing our course , which he loved . One hole he had to play a shot from well down below a plateau green , Christy went up , figured his line , dropped his lit cigarette on the apron of the green , and went back down to play his shot . Had the cigarette smoke as line guide , wry smile when walking off the green , bit of chat to a few clued in spectators . You learn something every day . |