Updated 12.40
IRISH GOLF LEGEND Christy O’Connor Jnr has died at the age of 67.
The Galway native was one of Ireland’s best known golfers in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, winning four times on the European Tour.
He also played in two Ryder Cups, and is best remembered for his stunning approach shot which helped Europe retain the trophy at the Belfry in 1989.
It is understood that he was on holidays with his wife Ann in Tenerife when he died suddenly.
President Michael D Higgins led the tributes to an ‘iconic’ sporting figure, and a warm and generous man.
His outstanding and courageous win in the singles in the 1989 Ryder Cup will be recalled for decades to come.
“He was always very proud of his Galway connections and gave support to so many admirable and humanitarian projects.
“He will be missed by not only his sporting colleagues, but also by his community, and in particular by his friends. We will miss his warm personality, his generosity and his great resilience of spirit.
“To his wife Anne, daughter Ann and son Nigel, and to his wider family and many friends, Sabina and I send our deepest sympathy.
“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”
Following in the footsteps of his uncle Christy Snr, who survives him aged 91, Christy Jnr turned professional in 1967 and won his first European Tour event at the Martini International in 1975.
He followed that up a few months later with a famous one-stroke win at the Carroll’s Irish Open in August of that year, and went on to make his Ryder Cup debut as Great Britain and Ireland lost to the US in Laurel Valley.
His play-off victory at the Jersey Open in April 1989 was a testament to his longevity and paved the way for his second Ryder Cup appearance where he unforgettably beat Couples on the final hole.
His famous two-iron approach to the 18th hole is “an image that will remain fixed forever in the minds of all Irish golf and sporting fans,” Taoiseach Enda Kenny said in his own tribute.
I knew Christy personally and he loved and lived life to the full. His premature passing will be a source of great sadness to many Irish people and all golfing fans in Ireland and across Europe.
“He was a multiple winner on the European, Senior and Champions Tours and he shot a then record first round of 64 during the British Open in 1985.
“There’s no doubt however that his crowning glory was that famous Ryder Cup moment and a raft of other Irish golfers then followed in his footsteps to Ryder Cup greatness.
“Like his uncle, he was a trailblazer on the European Tour and an example to many aspiring golfers around the country.”
He won the British Masters in 1992 at age of 43, and as he later made the move to the senior tours, won the Senior British Open in successive years in 1999 and 2000.
He is also remembered for his work in golf course design which spanned courses across Ireland and Europe.
His personal life was not without its tragedy, and his son Darren was just 17-years-old when he was killed in a road accident in 1998.
Speaking to The42 on Wednesday morning, Galway TD Brian Walsh described Mr O’Connor as a “great talent.”
“He brought us a huge amount of enjoyment, and he did a lot behind the scenes for Galway — you never said no if Christy asked you,” he said.
“Of course we’ll never forget that performance at the Belfry in 1989 against Fred Couples.
“It is terribly sad news. He was very young at just 67.
“We are very, very proud of him and he’ll be hugely missed. He was a great ambassador for Galway and for Ireland.”
“[Christy] was one of these gregarious people who was just a delight to meet every time you’d meet him,” former Galway football manager and close friend John O’Mahony told Sean O’Rourke on RTÉ Radio 1.
“Anywhere you brought him or he brought you, he was the star attraction, especially in Galway.
“He was one of the all-time characters and I’m going to miss him a lot.”
