Christy O'Connor Snr
Encyclopedia
Christy O'Connor is a former Irish
professional golf
er
O'Connor was born in Knocknacarra, Galway
. He turned professional in 1946. Throughout the 1960s he won at least one professional event during each year on the British Tour, a level of consistent success matched by very few other players. During his early career he was known simply as Christy O'Connor, but his nephew of the same name also became a prominent golfer, and since that time they have been referred to as Christy O'Connor Senior and Christy O'Connor Junior
, respectively. He was affectionately known as "Himself" among his golfing peers.
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
. He 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. He tied for second place with Brian Huggett
in the 1965 Open Championship
, behind winner Peter Thomson. 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.
Later in his career, O'Connor became the leading "senior" player of his day, just before the lucrative U.S.-based Senior PGA Tour, now known as the Champions Tour
, took off. He won the PGA Seniors Championship
six times and the World Senior Championship in 1976 and 1977.
O'Connor was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame
in 2009 in the Veterans category.
(this list only includes victories in tournaments that made up the British Order of Merit; O'Connor won numerous other professional events in Ireland, including the Irish PGA Championship
10 times, as well as a number of invitational and "pro-am" events including one hosted by Sean Connery in 1970)
, O'Connor only played The Open Championship
.
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Yellow background for top-10
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
professional golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er
O'Connor was born in Knocknacarra, Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
. He turned professional in 1946. Throughout the 1960s he won at least one professional event during each year on the British Tour, a level of consistent success matched by very few other players. During his early career he was known simply as Christy O'Connor, but his nephew of the same name also became a prominent golfer, and since that time they have been referred to as Christy O'Connor Senior and Christy O'Connor Junior
Christy O'Connor Jnr
Christy O'Connor Jnr is an Irish golfer. He is known as "Junior" because he is the nephew of another leading Irish golfer Christy O'Connor.O'Connor was born in Galway. He turned professional in 1967...
, respectively. He was affectionately known as "Himself" among his golfing peers.
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
WGC-World Cup
The World Cup is a men's golf tournament contested by teams of two representing their country. Only one team is allowed from each country. The players are selected on the basis of the Official World Golf Ranking, although not all of the first choice players choose to compete...
in 1958 playing with Harry Bradshaw
Harry Bradshaw (golfer)
Harry Bradshaw was a leading Irish professional golfer of the 1940s and 1950s.Bradshaw was born in Delgany, Wicklow. He was the son of the Delgany professional golfer Ned Bradshaw and he and his three brothers Jimmy, Eddie and Hughie all became professional golfers...
. He played in every Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
from 1955 to 1973, setting a record of ten appearances in the event which stood until it was surpassed by Nick Faldo
Nick Faldo
Sir Nicholas Alexander "Nick" Faldo, MBE is an English professional golfer on the European Tour who now mainly works as an on air golf analyst. Over his career, he has won six majors: three Open Championships and three Masters. He was ranked the World No...
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. He tied for second place with Brian Huggett
Brian Huggett
Brian George Charles Huggett, MBE is a Welsh professional golfer. In 2006 he was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame....
in the 1965 Open Championship
1965 Open Championship
The 1965 Open Championship was a golf competition held at Royal Birkdale Golf Club. The competition was won by Peter Thomson.-First round:-Second round:...
, behind winner Peter Thomson. In 1970 he won the John Player Classic
John Player Classic
The John Player Classic was the richest golf tournament in Britain between 1970 and 1973. In 1972 and 1973 it was an event on the fledgling PGA European Tour....
, 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.
Later in his career, O'Connor became the leading "senior" player of his day, just before the lucrative U.S.-based Senior PGA Tour, now known as the Champions Tour
Champions Tour
The Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
, took off. He won the PGA Seniors Championship
PGA Seniors Championship
The PGA Seniors Championship is a European Seniors Tour golf tournament for men aged fifty and above. It was founded in 1957, and became part of the European Seniors Tour on its founding in 1992. It was played at the Royal Dublin Golf Club in the Republic of Ireland that year, but since 1993 it has...
six times and the World Senior Championship in 1976 and 1977.
O'Connor was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame
World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of...
in 2009 in the Veterans category.
Regular career wins
- 1955 Swallow-Penfold Tournament
- 1956 British Masters, Spalding Tournament
- 1957 News of the World Match Play
- 1958 Canada CupWGC-World CupThe World Cup is a men's golf tournament contested by teams of two representing their country. Only one team is allowed from each country. The players are selected on the basis of the Official World Golf Ranking, although not all of the first choice players choose to compete...
(with Harry BradshawHarry Bradshaw (golfer)Harry Bradshaw was a leading Irish professional golfer of the 1940s and 1950s.Bradshaw was born in Delgany, Wicklow. He was the son of the Delgany professional golfer Ned Bradshaw and he and his three brothers Jimmy, Eddie and Hughie all became professional golfers...
) - 1959 Daks TournamentDaks TournamentThe Daks Tournament was a golf tournament of the European circuit from 1950 to 1971. It was played at a number of different locations in England.-Tournament hosts:-Winners:*1971 Neil Coles and Brian Huggett *1970 Neil Coles*1969 Brian Huggett...
, British Masters - 1960 Ballantine Tournament, Irish Hospitals Tournament
- 1961 Carling Caledonian Tournament
- 1962 Irish Hospitals Tournament
- 1963 Martini InternationalMartini InternationalThe Martini International was a men's professional golf tournament that was held from 1961 to 1983. It was hosted by several different golf clubs in England, Scotland and Wales. It was part of the European Tour's schedule from the tour's first official season in 1972 until the event ceased...
(tie with Neil ColesNeil ColesNeil Chapman Coles, MBE is an English professional golfer. As of 2005, Coles is only the second man to win a professional golf tournament in six different decades, starting in the 1950s and extending into the 21st century.Coles was born in England...
) - 1964 Carroll's InternationalIrish Open (golf)The Irish Open is a professional golf tournament on the European Tour, currently played at the end of July or early August each year. The event has been played in many locations on the island; its current home is the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in County Kerry in southwestern Ireland...
, Martini InternationalMartini InternationalThe Martini International was a men's professional golf tournament that was held from 1961 to 1983. It was hosted by several different golf clubs in England, Scotland and Wales. It was part of the European Tour's schedule from the tour's first official season in 1972 until the event ceased...
, Jeyes Tournament - 1965 Senior Service Tournament
- 1966 Carroll's InternationalIrish Open (golf)The Irish Open is a professional golf tournament on the European Tour, currently played at the end of July or early August each year. The event has been played in many locations on the island; its current home is the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in County Kerry in southwestern Ireland...
, Gallaher Ulster OpenGallaher Ulster OpenThe Gallaher Ulster Open was a professional golf tournament that was played in Northern Ireland between 1965 and 1971. It was last played the year prior to the formation of the formally organised professional tour which evolved into the European Tour, and was a British PGA Order of Merit counting... - 1967 Carroll's InternationalIrish Open (golf)The Irish Open is a professional golf tournament on the European Tour, currently played at the end of July or early August each year. The event has been played in many locations on the island; its current home is the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in County Kerry in southwestern Ireland...
- 1968 Gallaher Ulster OpenGallaher Ulster OpenThe Gallaher Ulster Open was a professional golf tournament that was played in Northern Ireland between 1965 and 1971. It was last played the year prior to the formation of the formally organised professional tour which evolved into the European Tour, and was a British PGA Order of Merit counting...
, Alcan International - 1969 Gallaher Ulster OpenGallaher Ulster OpenThe Gallaher Ulster Open was a professional golf tournament that was played in Northern Ireland between 1965 and 1971. It was last played the year prior to the formation of the formally organised professional tour which evolved into the European Tour, and was a British PGA Order of Merit counting...
- 1970 Bowmaker Pro-Am, John Player ClassicJohn Player ClassicThe John Player Classic was the richest golf tournament in Britain between 1970 and 1973. In 1972 and 1973 it was an event on the fledgling PGA European Tour....
- 1972 Carroll's InternationalIrish Open (golf)The Irish Open is a professional golf tournament on the European Tour, currently played at the end of July or early August each year. The event has been played in many locations on the island; its current home is the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in County Kerry in southwestern Ireland...
(this list only includes victories in tournaments that made up the British Order of Merit; O'Connor won numerous other professional events in Ireland, including the Irish PGA Championship
Irish PGA Championship
The Irish PGA Championship is a golf tournament played annually in Ireland since 1907. It is one of the oldest golf tournaments in the world, the oldest in the Emerald Isles, and has been played at many different golf courses in Ireland. It is the marquee event on the PGA Tour of Ireland's...
10 times, as well as a number of invitational and "pro-am" events including one hosted by Sean Connery in 1970)
Senior wins
this list is probably incomplete- 1976 PGA Seniors ChampionshipPGA Seniors ChampionshipThe PGA Seniors Championship is a European Seniors Tour golf tournament for men aged fifty and above. It was founded in 1957, and became part of the European Seniors Tour on its founding in 1992. It was played at the Royal Dublin Golf Club in the Republic of Ireland that year, but since 1993 it has...
, World Senior Championship - 1977 PGA Seniors ChampionshipPGA Seniors ChampionshipThe PGA Seniors Championship is a European Seniors Tour golf tournament for men aged fifty and above. It was founded in 1957, and became part of the European Seniors Tour on its founding in 1992. It was played at the Royal Dublin Golf Club in the Republic of Ireland that year, but since 1993 it has...
, World Senior Championship - 1979 PGA Seniors ChampionshipPGA Seniors ChampionshipThe PGA Seniors Championship is a European Seniors Tour golf tournament for men aged fifty and above. It was founded in 1957, and became part of the European Seniors Tour on its founding in 1992. It was played at the Royal Dublin Golf Club in the Republic of Ireland that year, but since 1993 it has...
- 1981 PGA Seniors ChampionshipPGA Seniors ChampionshipThe PGA Seniors Championship is a European Seniors Tour golf tournament for men aged fifty and above. It was founded in 1957, and became part of the European Seniors Tour on its founding in 1992. It was played at the Royal Dublin Golf Club in the Republic of Ireland that year, but since 1993 it has...
- 1982 PGA Seniors ChampionshipPGA Seniors ChampionshipThe PGA Seniors Championship is a European Seniors Tour golf tournament for men aged fifty and above. It was founded in 1957, and became part of the European Seniors Tour on its founding in 1992. It was played at the Royal Dublin Golf Club in the Republic of Ireland that year, but since 1993 it has...
- 1983 PGA Seniors ChampionshipPGA Seniors ChampionshipThe PGA Seniors Championship is a European Seniors Tour golf tournament for men aged fifty and above. It was founded in 1957, and became part of the European Seniors Tour on its founding in 1992. It was played at the Royal Dublin Golf Club in the Republic of Ireland that year, but since 1993 it has...
Results in major championships
Of the four majorsMen's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
, O'Connor only played The Open Championship
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
.
| 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T19 | DNP | T24 | T20 | T10 | T10 | T19 | T3 | T5 |
| 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T36 | T4 | T16 | 6 | T6 | T2 | T13 | 21 | CUT | 5 |
| 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T17 | T35 | T23 | T7 | T56 | DNP | CUT | CUT | DNP | T36 |
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Yellow background for top-10