Christy O'Connor Jnr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christy O'Connor Jnr |
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O'Connor in 2010
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| Personal information | |
| Nickname | Junior |
| Born | 19 August 1948 County Galway, Ireland |
| Died | 6 January 2016 (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 results in Major Championships |
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| 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 a famous Irish professional golfer. He is best known for a super important moment in the 1989 Ryder Cup. He beat American golfer Fred Couples, which helped Europe win the trophy!
Contents
Early Life and His Name
Christy O'Connor Jnr was born in Knocknacarra, a village in Salthill, County Galway, Ireland, in 1948. His parents were Elizabeth and John O'Connor. His family lived on a farm where they raised cattle and pigs, right next to a golf club.
You might wonder why he had "Jnr" (Junior) in his name. He wasn't born with it! It was added after he became a professional golfer in the 1970s. This was to tell him apart from his uncle, Christy O'Connor, who was also a very well-known professional golfer. His uncle then got "Snr" (Senior) added to his name.
Golf Career Highlights
Christy O'Connor Jnr became a professional golfer in 1967. He played on the European golf circuit. When the European Tour started in 1972, he joined it. It took him a few years to really shine.
In 1975, he won two big tournaments. He even finished 7th on the "Order of Merit," which is like a ranking of the best players. One of his wins was the Carroll's Irish Open. He was only the second Irish golfer ever to win his home country's open tournament! Because of his great playing, he got to play in the Ryder Cup for the first time that year.
The next year, in 1976, Christy almost won the Open Championship, which is one of golf's biggest tournaments. He started strong and finished in the top 5. He kept playing well for a few years, even getting invited to play in the Masters Tournament.
However, he didn't become a superstar right away. Other young golfers like Seve Ballesteros and Nick Faldo were becoming very famous. Christy kept working hard, and his game improved steadily in the early 1980s.
The Famous Ryder Cup Moment
One of Christy's most famous moments happened at the 1985 Open Championship. He started with an amazing score, leading by four shots after the first round! He ended up finishing tied for 3rd place, just two shots behind the winner. This was his best finish in a major tournament.
He continued to play well and, in 1989, he won the Jersey Open. This was his first win in 14 years, which was a record for the longest gap between wins on the European Tour! This victory helped him get chosen for the 1989 Ryder Cup team.
Some people in the media weren't happy about him being picked for the Ryder Cup. He wasn't one of the automatic choices; the captain chose him. He was the lowest-ranked player on either team. He even lost his first team match.
But then came Sunday, the final day of the Ryder Cup. Christy was set to play against Fred Couples, a rising American star who would later become the world's number one golfer. Some people called Christy Europe's "weak link."
The match was incredibly close, going all the way to the very last hole. On the 18th hole, Fred Couples hit a perfect shot, leaving him with a short shot to the green. Christy hit a good drive, but he was further away. Then, Christy hit an amazing 2-iron shot over a pond! The ball landed just 4 feet from the hole. Fred Couples then hit his shot too far and couldn't get the ball in the hole. He gave up the match to Christy. Christy's win was super important because Europe tied the Ryder Cup 14-14, which meant they kept the trophy! This moment became the most famous part of his career.
Later Career
As Christy got older, he continued to play well for a few more years. He won the British Masters in 1992, making some incredible shots from behind trees. This win allowed him to play in a special tournament in America called the NEC World Series of Golf.
After 1992, he didn't play as much on the main tour. But when he turned 50, he started playing on the "senior" tours for older golfers. He joined the Senior PGA TOUR in the United States in 1999. He played full-time for two years, winning two tournaments and earning over a million dollars! He also won the Senior British Open twice in a row on the European Seniors Tour.
Personal Life
Christy O'Connor Jnr was married to Ann. They had three children: Nigel, Ann, and Darren. Sadly, his son Darren passed away in a car accident when he was 17 years old.
Christy was a big supporter of the Special Olympics, which helps athletes with intellectual disabilities. He also helped design many golf courses in Ireland and other countries.
Christy O'Connor Jnr passed away on 6 January 2016, while on holiday with his wife Ann in Tenerife, Canary Islands.
Professional Wins
Christy O'Connor Jnr won 16 professional golf tournaments during his career. This included 4 wins on the European Tour, 2 wins on the Safari Circuit, 6 other wins, and 4 wins on the Senior PGA Tour (including two major championships for senior golfers).
Results in Major Championships
Christy O'Connor Jnr played in the Masters Tournament once and the The Open Championship many times. His best result in a major was tied for 3rd place at the 1985 Open Championship. He never played in the U.S. Open or the PGA Championship.
Senior Major Championships
Christy O'Connor Jnr won two major championships for senior golfers:
- 1999 Senior British Open
- 2000 Senior British Open (he won it two years in a row!)
Team Appearances
Christy O'Connor Jnr represented Ireland and Europe in many team golf events:
- Double Diamond International (representing Ireland): 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977
- Sotogrande Match/Hennessy Cognac Cup (representing Great Britain and Ireland/Ireland): 1974 (winners), 1984
- World Cup (representing Ireland): 1974, 1975, 1978, 1985, 1989, 1992
- Ryder Cup (representing Great Britain and Ireland/Europe): 1975, 1989 (tied – retained Cup)
- Philip Morris International (representing Ireland): 1975, 1976
- Dunhill Cup (representing Ireland): 1985, 1989, 1992
- Praia d'El Rey European Cup: 1998 (tie)
Images for kids
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Christy O'Connor Jnr in 1985
