Irish golfer and Ryder Cup hero Christy O'Connor Jnr has died suddenly while on holiday in Tenerife. He was 67 years of age.
The news was broken Galway Bay FM some minutes ago.
A Galway man and nephew of legendary golfer Christy O'Connor Senior (they were called senior and junior merely to distinguish them from one another), he played on the European Tour for over two decades, winning four tour events. His peak time was in the mid-70s.
In 1975, he won the Carroll's Irish Open in Woodbrook in Wicklow. The same year, he won the Martini International and finished 7th in the Order of Merit.
He participated in two Ryder Cups in 1975 and 1989. He is best remembered for his singles performance in the '89 Ryder Cup.
His final hole victory over Fred Couples at the Belfry retained the Ryder Cup for Europe.
In 1992, he won the prestigious British Masters in Woburn. He was aged 44.
Three times, he finished in the top 10 of the British Open, finishing fifth in 1976, tied-eighth in 1983, and tied third in 1985.
In later years, he won two major championships on the Senior Tour, winning two successive Senior British Opens in 1999 and 2000.
He involved himself in golf course design in his later years. One of those courses is the well known Esker Hills golf course in Offaly.
