O'Connor makes US breakthrough

Christy O'Connor had never heard of Hobbit's Glen Golf Club until he received a sponsor's exemption to compete there in the State Farm Senior Classic on the US Seniors Tour. Now, he'll never forget the place in the townland of Columbia in the state of Maryland.

Yesterday, in only his sixth appearance in a seniors event in the United States, the 50-year-old Galwayman completed a wire-to-wire victory in the $1.3 million tournament and collected the biggest cheque of his career: a top prize of $195,000 after he fired a closing round 67 for an 18-under-par total of 198 which gave him a one shot win over Bruce Fleisher.

"This makes my year," said an emotional O'Connor afterwards, who had set a course record equalling first round 65 on Friday and ignored the sweltering heat to claim victory. Best known in the US for his Ryder Cup win over Fred Couples at the Belfry in 1989, O'Connor was finding it hard to secure sponsors' exemptions but this win secures his card on the US Seniors Tour for next season and jumped him into the top 25 on the moneylist.

Indeed, his Ryder Cup experience served him well in what developed into a head-to-head battle with Fleisher, the US Tour's top money winner as a rookie this season.

At the final hole, the American had a chip for eagle to tie O'Connor - but left the effort six inches short. It meant that O'Connor, who had a 12 foot birdie putt, required two putts to secure his win and he duly took them. "This means so much to me and my family," he remarked afterwards.

Tiger Woods moved within sight of regaining his world number one ranking when he secured a four-stroke lead after the third round at the $2.5 million Western Open on Saturday.

Woods started the day tied with Stuart Appleby, but broke clear with an excellent four-under-par 68 in gusty winds at Cog Hill.

Woods was at 14-under 202 with one round left, while Australian Appleby (72), American Mike Brisky (71) and Canadian Mike Weir (67) were equal second on 206.

John Daly returned to the US last night, unclear as to whether he would be back to compete in the British Open at Carnoustie on July 15th to 18th. "I'm pretty sure I'm out of the Open but I haven't told the R and A yet - I don't want to jump the gun," he said, after a final round of 74 at Druids Glen where he compiled a 12-over-par aggregate of 296. "I thought really hard about it (Carnoustie) last night. It's not fair to myself and some other players who might have a chance to go to the Open."

Meanwhile, Daly has withdrawn from this week's Standard Life Loch Lomond tournament. "It wouldn't be fair to play there and not the British," he said.

The Irish side flew home from the European Amateur Team golf Championships yesterday disappointed with their sixth place finish over the Monticello course on Saturday.

After qualifying in seventh position, Ireland had to face England in the first match-play round and suffered defeat before beating Wales and losing 3-2 to Spain in the changed format of just one foursomes and four singles.