Christy O'Conner Senior tilhørte Royal Dublin Golf Club siden han kom til klubben som club professional i 1959. Dette bildet henger blant mange andre i en egen avdeling i klubbhuset, nærmest et museum: Christy O'Connor Room. Foto: Asbjørn Ramnefjell

16.05 Christy O'Connor Senior:
Døde 15. mai 2016
Han var en legende i golfnasjonen Irland. Han satte dype spor etter seg.

Han ble 91 år gammel.

Christy O'Connor Senior var med i Ryder Cup imponerende 10 ganger. Han vant 24 ganger på Europa Touren i en tid hvor det ikke var mange turneringer hvert år. Ellers hadde dette tallet vært langt høyere.

Hele 15 ganger spilte han på Irland World Cup lag. Han vant sammen med Harry Bradshaw på Portmarnock i 1958, ikke langt fra den banen som skulle være hans andre hjem i 59 år fra 1959; The Royal Dublin Golf Club. I 1988 mente medlemmene i klubben at han skulle bli Honorary Life Member.

Han kom inn i World Golf Hall of Fame i St. Augustine i Florida i 2009.

Christy O'Connor ble kalt Himself. Litt av et navn!

"We have lost not only one of the greatest Ryder Cup players the game has seen, but an incredible man," uttrykte Richard Hills som er Ryder Cup director for Europas lag.


Her er en fin video fra Royal Dublin Golf Course og litt om legenden Christy O'Connor Senior. KLIKK HER

Golfsidens utsendte hadde gleden av å spille The Royal Dublin Golf Club i vår og besøke Christy O'Connor Room i klubbhuset. En opplevelse som anbefales på det varmeste.


Følgende står å lese på hjemmesiden til Royal Dublin Golf Course:

Christy O'Connor Himself

A fifty seven year association between Christy O’Connor Senior and The Royal Dublin Golf Club came to an end with the sad news of Christy’s death on Saturday 14th May 2016

The President, Captain, Committee and Members extend their deepest sympathy to his wife Mary, his children Marguerite, Therese, Joan, Christopher and Peter, and to his grandchildren and extended circle of family and friends. Christy was predeceased by his daughter Ann-Marie (Darcy).

When Christy joined Royal Dublin as Club Professional on April 1st 1959, he was already an established professional by that time having turned pro in 1947. Christy was a remarkable ambassador for Royal Dublin, he gave generously of his time to Members and visitors alike and his great love and affection for the Club and the Links was evident at all times. His loss to Royal Dublin and to the Irish golfing community is incalculable and he will be deeply missed by his many friends at the Club and throughout the golfing world.

Christy O’Connor is one of Ireland’s greatest ever sportsmen and a true gentleman. He was born in Knocknacarra a small village close to Galway city, his superlative career spanned four decades as he won 24 European Tour tournaments. Christy blazed a trail throughout the golfing world and in the process earned the respect of his fellow professionals and captured the heart of the Irish nation through his marvellous performances.

The premature death earlier this year of his nephew Christy O’Connor Junior was a great loss to Christy. They had a very special relationship, Junior having served as an apprentice to his uncle in Royal Dublin in the 1960s and learned from him the attributes and skills which would make him such a fine golfer.

Christy played in 10 consecutive Ryder Cup matches from 1955 to 1973 setting a record which stood until it was surpassed by Nick Faldo in 1997. He made his final appearance in Muirfield in 1973 finishing in fine style when he halved his singles match with reigning British Open champion Tom Weisfopf.

Christy won the first £1,000 prize tournament in British golf when he claimed the Swallow-Penfold tournament in 1955. He was a twice winner of the British Masters (’56 and ’59) and tied for second at the British Open in 1965.

“Himself” as he is affectionately known, won the Carrolls International (Irish Open) a record four times with one of those victories famously coming at Royal Dublin in 1966. Christy won with a spectacular eagle-birdie-eagle finish to secure the title on his home course.

In 1970, he won the John Player Classic, beating Tony Jacklin the reigning British Open and US Open Champion. At that time its £25,000 first prize was the richest offered in golf

Of the four major championships, he only played in the Open Championship. He had ten top -10 finishes, including a tie for second in 1965 at Royal Birkdale.

He was Irish professional champion on ten occasions and was twice (1961 and 1962) recipient of the Vardon Trophy for leading the British Tour's Order of Merit. He played in an Irish record 15 Canada Cups now called the World Cup teaming with his great friend Harry Bradshaw to win in Mexico City in 1958.

Later in his career, he became the leading "senior" player of his day. He won the PGA Seniors Championship six times and the World Senior Championship in 1976 and 1977. Christy was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2009.

Christy retired as Club professional in 1975.