Christy O’Connor Jnr dies suddenly aged 67

One of Ireland’s greatest golfers Christy O’Connor Jnr has died at the age of 67. It is understood Mr O’Connor passed away suddenly while on holiday with his wife Ann in Tenerife, Spain.

His contribution to Irish golf included 17 professional wins and two Ryder Cup appearances. The golfer turned professional in 1967 and was at the forefront of the PGA European Tour for over two decades.

Like his uncle Christy O’Connor Snr, his introduction to golf came at Galway Golf Club near his home in Knocknacarra and he followed in Christy Senior into the professional ranks in 1967.

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Christy O’Connor Junior (left) and Severiano Ballesteros of the European team after O’Connor won his vital match during the Ryder Cup golf competition held at The Belfry, Warwickshire, in September 1989. The score between the European team and the United States team finished in a draw at 14 each, so the European team retained the trophy. Photograph: Getty Images

He represented Ireland many times including at the World Cup, the Alfred Dunhill Cup, the Double Diamond, the Hennessey Cup and the Ryder Cup. Later in his career he won two Senior Open Championship titles.

O’Connor also designed golf courses, with over 30 projects throughout Europe.

In December last year O’Connor received the Golf Digest lifetime achievement award.

1989 Ryder Cup

The Golf Union of Ireland said “ RIP Christy O’Connor Jnr- will we ever forget this iconic moment”. It tweeted a video one of his greatest wins in the Ryder Cup at The Belfry in 1989.

He went in as the underdog in his singles match with Fred Couples, a future Masters champion and a player who would go on to occupy the world number one position in the official rankings.

On that Sunday morning, O’Connor’s nerves weren’t helped by reading a newspaper article which pretty much wrote off his chances of taking on the American.

“I felt terrible when I read it,” he later acknowledged.

As it happened, O’Connor held his nerve impressively with his iconic two-iron approach to four feet on the 18th hole, providing what the Galway man describes as “the greatest and most emotional moment of my professional life”.

The two-iron shot, from 235 yards over water, was the shot of O’Connor’s life and gave Europe the point needed to retain the trophy. Couples, who had outdriven O’Connor throughout the match, had only a nine-iron for his approach to the last, but he fell to the pressure applied on him by the Irishman.

With arms raised to the heavens and tears pouring down his face, O’Connor’s shot secured him a special place in Ryder Cup history.

‘Greatest talent’

Special Olympics Ireland said he was “one of Ireland’s greatest ever talents and a dedicated patron of Special Olympics”

He is survived by his wife Ann, son Nigel and daughter Aine. The couple’s son Darren O’Connor died at the age of 17 in a car crash near Kileeneymore, Co Galway in September 1998.