NUI Galway mourns Christy O'Connor
It is with sadness that NUI Galway noted the passing of legendary golfer, Christy O’Connor Jnr today at the age of 67.
In 2006 Christy O’Connor Jnr was awarded an honorary degree by NUI Galway in recognition of his sporting achievements as a golfer of the highest international renown.
The Galway-native is best known for his famous 2-iron approach shot to the 18th hole that secured a Ryder Cup victory for Europe at the Belfry in 1989.
President of NUI Galway, Dr Jim Browne paid the following tribute: “On behalf of NUI Galway I extend condolences to Christy’s wife, Ann and to his family and wide circle of friends. Our University is honored to be associated with the late Christy O’Connor Jnr. We recall with great fondness the occasion of Christy’s honorary conferring, along with that of his uncle, Christy Senior in 2006. On that occasion, we were privileged to honour his success as an international golfer and his achievements as one of Ireland’s best sporting ambassadors.
Mike Heskin, Director of Sport & Physical Activity at NUI Galway, said: “We are shocked at the news of Christy's passing, our thoughts are with his family at this time. Christy was a proud Galwegian and a wonderful ambassador for Galway, Irish golf and Irish sport in general. We will all remember his great performances in the Ryder Cup but also his inspirational leadership in Irish sport and his performances on the World stage, which set the pathway for so many others to follow. Christy will be remembered fondly by all for his kindness showed to everyone he engaged with. May he rest in peace.”
Christy O’Connor’s most notable of 17 events won world-wide included the Irish Open (Woodbrook, with a record score of 22 under par) in 1975, and the British masters in Woburn in 1992. He also won the Nigerian and Kenyan Opens. He had many excellent performances in the British Open and was 4th to Johnny Miller in 1976, tied with Jack Nicklaus, 5th in 1983, and 3rd in 1985, beaten 2 shots by Sandy Lyle. He represented Ireland 6 times in the Dunhill Cup, and was twice a member of the Ryder Cup team.
Mr O’Connor won the British Seniors Open consecutively in 1999 and 2000. On the American PGA Seniors Tour, he won twice in 1999, the Home Farm Classic in Baltimore and the Foremost Insurance Classic in Michigan.
In 2006 NUI Galway conferred Christy O’Connor Jnr. and his Uncle Christy O’Connor Snr with an honorary degree, a Doctor of Arts, honoris causa.
President's Address
THE ADDRESS DELIVERED BY DR IOGNÁID Ó MUIRCHEARTAIGH, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, President, National University of Ireland, Galway, on 23 June 2006, on the occasion of the conferring of the
Degree of Doctor of Arts, honoris causa, on CHRISTY O’CONNOR SENIOR AND CHRISTY O’CONNOR JUNIOR.
A Sheansailéir, a mhuintir na hOllscoile agus a chairde,
Onóir as cuimse domsa beirt de mhór laochra spóirt ár linne a chur in bhúr láthair ar maidin, le go mbronnfar ortha an gradam is airde atá ar fáil ón Ollscoil, mar aitheantas ar na héachtanna atá bainte amach acu ar chursaí gailf an domhain le breis agus leath-chéád bliain. It is my pleasure this morning to present to you, Chancellor, two of the outstanding sporting heroes of our time, so that the University can bestow on them its highest honour.
The name O’Connor is synonymous with golfing excellence in Ireland, particularly in the West of Ireland. So much so that in my own black moments on the golf course – of which there have been, and no doubt will continue to be, many – I have seriously considered changing my name by deed poll to O’Connor.
Today, we welcome to the University two of the most famous and most talented members of the clan, two men whose achievements in the game of golf are the stuff of legend, two men whose golfing fame and reputations extend throughout the globe, two men who have left an indelible trace on the history of the game all over the golfing world, two men who are admired far and wide not only for their golfing abilities, but also for their warm and engaging personalities. We welcome them and honour them for all of the above reasons, but particularly because Christy O’Connor Sr. and Christy O’Connor Junior are two of our own, who have gone forth from Galway and conquered the golfing world.
Christy O’Connor Sr. and Junior are, of course, uncle and nephew. Both were born in what was then rural Knocknacarra (now a bustling suburb of Galway) and both attended the Claddagh National School. There may be some debate as to whether or not “attended” is the most appropriate word to describe their tenure at the Claddagh School – it is said that during Christy Senior’s period of interaction with the aforementioned school, the then school principal remonstrated with him and said that if he didn’t improve his attendance record “he would never make anything of himself!” It is also reported that many years later, as Sr. and Jr. walked one day past the Claddagh school, Sr. said to Jnr. “Isn’t it a good thing we paid no heed to that teacher!”
Galway Golf Club was within a short iron of Christy Senior’s home, and as soon as he was tall enough to scale the boundary wall, he found his spiritual mecca. Given the strong association of both of the Christy’s with Galway Golf Club, it is a pleasure to welcome here today the current President, Captain and lady Captain of Galway Golf Club.
Christy Senior worked on his game in his own “Open University”, and graduated through caddying and green keeping to professional status. As he said himself “Life was tough in those days, and to help out I used to caddy at Galway Golf Club. In between rounds I spent hours on end chipping and putting around the first green. In time I became a fanatic. There were not enough hours in the day for me to practice my golf [I know the feeling Christy!]. In time I became a fanatic.” As merely an assistant to Bob Wallace at Galway Golf Club (who was a very strong influence on the then young Christy), he was not permitted to compete in the Irish PGA Championships held in Galway Golf Club in 1950, but he was eventually accepted into the IPGA in 1951. He went from Galway to golf clubs in Tuam, Bundoran, Killarney and finally Royal Dublin in 1958, where he has been ever since.
In time he became a most gifted player, setting markers of which lesser mortals could only dream. He won the first £1000 prize in European golf in 1955, then the world’s biggest prize - £25,000 – in 1970 before winning the world seniors title seven years later. He is acknowledged by all and sundry as perhaps the most natural golfer in the world; Lee Trevino has said of him “he looks entirely natural swinging a club; he flows through the ball like fine wine”.
In between he won the Canada Cup (now the World Cup) with Harry Bradshaw in 1958, played in the World Cup 15 times between 1956 and 1975, holder of a record 10 successive Ryder Cup appearances from 1955 to 1973. Although he never won the British Open, he played in it 26 times between 1951 and 1979. He had many good finishes, 3rd in 1958, 5th a year later, 3rd again in 1961 and runner-up in 1965. Among those finishing behind him in 1965 were Roberto di Vicenzo, Kel Nagle, Tony Lema, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead and Doug Sanders.
Before Senior hit a shot in his first Irish Championship at Royal Portrush, Eric Brown, the famous Scottish pro told everyone who would listen: “there is an Irish lad here who reminds me of Sam Snead, his swing is a gift from god and he rips the ball a country mile.” For the record, Max Faulkner won that Championship, and pocketed a £350 cheque; Senior finished 19th and exactly £19.
But the good days were not too far away for Christy and Mary Collins, the girl from Tuam whom he married and who has walked the fairways with him ever since they tied the know on October 12, 1954. “We have no money” said Mary as they walked down the aisle. “Don’t worry” Christy whispered “I’ll win it and you can mind it”. Christy became a living legend, and Mary his constant support. We welcome Mary and all Christy Senior’s family and friends this morning.
My favourite recollection of Christy Jnr.’s achievements relate, of course, to the famous 2-iron (of which club more later) the famous 2-iron to the 18th in the Ryder Cup at the Belfry in 1989. I was in California at the time, and I remember sitting having breakfast with some friends at 8.00 a.m. in the morning, and watching Christy’s 2 iron to the heart of the 18th. This shot so upset his opponent Freddie Couples that Freddie missed the green with a 9 iron. I remember Freddie chipping on, and in particular I remember Christy’s gesture of deepest gratitude to the Almighty when Freddie missed his putt, leaving Christy two putts for a win from a short distance. Even I myself could have achieved that (to be honest, I probably couldn’t, but golf is after all a game of self-delusion). And I took great pride in pointing out to my Californian friends that the man who had just defeated the might of the United States was a member of my own club.
Like his illustrious uncle, Junior nurtured his early interest in golf at Galway Golf Club, though in his case it was as a member of the club rather than as a caddy. The folk memory has it that at that time he displayed no particular outstanding golfing talent, and there are still members of Galway Golf Club who feel they were as good as him if not better (more of this self-delusion!). It is said that when Junior told one of the members that he was turning pro, the said member (who shall be nameless but who is here today) said to him: “Christy, prepare for starvation!” Well Christy, with all due respect, whatever you may have done in your professional career, it is quite clear that starvation was not a part of it!”
So how did an 8 handicap member of Galway Golf Club end up winning the key match for Europe in the Ryder Cup in 1989? After turning pro, he spent some time as Assistant to Kevin Wallace, son of Bob, in South Shields and subsequently in Sweden. But it was when he joined his uncle at Royal Dublin that he began to blossom. His uncle forced him (and forced is not too strong a word) to practice and practice and practice. He sent him off for hours every morning, and he was no sooner back for lunch than he was sent out for more. At times his hands bled from the sheer pressure. But the practice began to pay off. He spent some of 1968 and all of 1969 in Holland teaching the youth team of Holland “most of them older than myself” and they won the European Youth Team Championship in 1969. He returned to Ireland (to Carlow) in 1971 and won the first of three Irish Matchplay titles (the other two in 1973 and 1975 at Lahinch and Galway).
The most notable of 17 events won world-wide were the Irish Open (Woodbrook, with a record score of 22 under par) in 1975, and the British masters in Woburn in 1992. He also won the Nigerian and Kenyan Opens. He had many excellent performances in the British Open, though like Senior he never won it. He was 4th to Johnny Miller in 1976, tied with Jack Nicklaus, 5th in 1983, and 3rd in 1985, beaten 2 shots by Sandy Lyle. He represented Ireland 6 times in the Dunhill Cup, and was twice a member of the Ryder Cup team.
He won the British Seniors Open consecutively in 1999 and 2000. On the American PGA Seniors Tour, he won twice in 1999, the Home Farm Classic in Baltimore and the Foremost Insurance Classic in Michigan. He dedicated the first of these wins to his son Darren, who had died tragically the previous year. Indeed Darren himself had been a very promising golfer, all-Ireland under 17 Champion, and beaten by 1 shot to be all-Ireland under 21 Champion on the same day, and only just turned 17. Cuirimid céad mile fáilte roimh mac eile Junior, Nigel, his daughter Ann and his wife Ann, and the other members of Junior’s family who are with us today.
Junior will always be remembered for the career defining 2-iron to the 18th at the Belfry. He donated the club to a charity cancer auction, where it raised £50,000. The buyer then returned it to the golfer who continued to play with it. In 1990 his car was stolen, and his clubs, including the 2-iron were inside. The car was recovered but not the 2-iron, which has not been seen since. However, later in 1990, O’Connor won the Kenya Open. At the celebration party, an elderly Irish missionary nun approached O’Connor. “Would you leave me your 2-iron for charity” she asked sweetly. The golfer explained that it wasn’t the same club from the Belfry. The nun thought for a moment then, displaying the kind of moral pragmatism characteristic of her generation said “ah, who’ll know?” It is indeed rumoured that that 2-iron has been auctioned more times than it was struck.
Today, we welcome back to Galway two of our own. We want them to know that this community is proud of their achievements, and is privileged to acknowledge their excellence by conferring on them the highest accolade which the University can bestow. Chancellor, I am honoured to present to you two of Galway and Ireland’s greatest sporting heroes and ambassadors, Christy O’Connor Sr. and Christy O’Connor Jnr.