Who's who: Christy O'Connor Jr

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Christy O'Connor Jr

  • Name:

    Christy O'Connor Jr.
  • Also known as:

    Junior
  • Country:

    Ireland
  • Lived:

    [1948-2016]. Born on Aug 19, 1948 in Knocknacarra, Co. Galway. Died on Jan 6, 2016 in Tenerife, Canary Islands, aged 67.
  • Original/Home Club:

    Galway GC, Galway.
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer; golf course designer.
  • Turned Pro:

    1967

Roll of Honour

Ryder Cup player (1975, 1989). Total professional wins (17), including European Tour (4), European Snr Tour (2) and Champions Tour (2).

Golf course design

Christy O'Connor Jr has designed many golf courses, particularly in Ireland. His work includes (but is not limited to): Concra Wood (2009, with his uncle Christy O'Connor); Dingle - CeannSibeal (with Eddie Hackett); Esker Hills (1996); Fota Island (1993, with Peter McEvoy); Galway Bay (1993); Glasson (1993); Knightsbrook (2006); O'Connor Jr course, Oceanico Golf, Portugal (2008); Palmerston House (2005); Rathsallagh (1996, with Peter McEvoy); Roganstown (2004).

Did you know?

Often referred to as simply "Junior", Christy O'Connor Jr was the nephew of another Irish golfing legend Christy O'Connor. O'Connor Jr enjoyed a successful professional career on the European and European Senior tours, while also pursuing his business as a golf course designer. He was perhaps best remembered for his win over Fred Couples in the 1989 Ryder Cup at The Belfry. On the final hole he drilled a stunning 2-iron to just four feet from the hole, knocked in the putt and claimed a memorable 1-up win over the American.

Top tournaments won by Christy O'Connor Jr

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

O'Connor, Christy Jr

Score

275 (-9)

Prize money

€102,758

Title sponsor

MasterCard

Played as the Senior British Open presented by MasterCard (14th) (July 27-30). Second-placed John Bland (RSA) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Christy O'Connor Jr (Ire), who recorded the second of his two wins on the European Snr Tour. [Royal County Down GC, Newcastle, Co. Down, N. Ireland].

1999
America
Hobbit's Glen
198 (-18)
$195,000
State Farm

Category

America

Winner (holder)

O'Connor, Christy Jr

Venue

Hobbit's Glen

Score

198 (-18)

Prize money

$195,000

Title sponsor

State Farm

Played as the State Farm Senior Classic (July 2-4). Second-placed Bruce Fleisher (USA) finished 1 shot behind first-time Snr PGA Tour winner O'Connor Jnr (Ire). [Hobbit's Glen GC, Columbia, Maryland].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

O'Connor, Christy Jr

Score

282 (-6)

Prize money

€88,620

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Senior British Open (13th) (July 22-25). Second-placed John Bland (RSA) finished 3 shots behind first-time European Snr Tour winner Christy O'Connor Jr (Ire). [Dunluce Links, Royal Portrush GC, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland].

1999
America
Egypt Valley CC
205 (-11)
$150,000
Foremost Ins.

Category

America

Winner (holder)

O'Connor, Christy Jr

Venue

Egypt Valley CC

Score

205 (-11)

Prize money

$150,000

Title sponsor

Foremost Ins.

Played as the Foremost Insurance Championship (Aug 13-15). Second-placed George Archer (USA), John Jacobs (USA) and Jim Thorpe (USA) finished 4 shots behind O'Connor Jr (Ire), who recorded the second of his two Snr PGA Tour wins. [Egypt Valley CC, Ada, nr Grand Rapids, Michigan].

1992
Europe
270 (-18)
£100,000
Dunhill

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

O'Connor, Christy Jr

Score

270 (-18)

Prize money

£100,000

Title sponsor

Dunhill

Played as the Dunhill British Masters (May 28-31). O'Connor Jr (Ire) beat Tony Johnstone (Zim) with a birdie at the first playoff hole, to record the last of his four European Tour wins. [Duke's course, Woburn GC, nr Milton Keynes, Bucks].

1990
Africa
271 (-13)
£12,500
555

Category

Africa

Winner (holder)

O'Connor, Christy Jr

Score

271 (-13)

Prize money

£12,500

Title sponsor

555

Played as the 555 Kenya Open (Eurpn Challenge Tr event). Second-placed Chris Platts (Eng) finished 2 shots behind O'Connor Jr (Ire). [Muthaiga GC, Nairobi, Kenya].

1989
Europe
281 (-3)
£24,490
Jersey European Airways

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

O'Connor, Christy Jr

Venue

La Moye

Score

281 (-3)

Prize money

£24,490

Title sponsor

Jersey European Airways

Played as the Jersey European Airways Open (April 6-9). Christy O'Connor Jr (Ire) beat Denis Durnian (Eng) with a par at the first playoff hole. [La Moye GC, St Brelade, Jersey, Channel Islands].

1975
Europe
279 (-9)
£1,875
Martini

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

O'Connor, Christy Jr

Score

279 (-9)

Prize money

£1,875

Title sponsor

Martini

Played as the Martini International (June 11-14). Christy O'Connor Jr (Ire) and Ian Stanley (Aus) finished in a tie for first place. Bob Shearer (Aus) and Guy Hunt (Eng) finished 1 shot further back in joint third place. This was the first of O'Connor's four European Tour wins. [Royal North Devon GC, Westward Ho!, Bideford, Devon].

1975
Europe
275 (-21)
£5,000
Carroll & Co.

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

O'Connor, Christy Jr

Score

275 (-21)

Prize money

£5,000

Title sponsor

Carroll & Co.

Played as Carroll's Irish Open (the first Irish Open since 1953; now with P.J. Carroll & Co. as title sponsor). Second-placed Harry Bannerman (Scot) finished 1 shot behind O'Connor Jr (Ire). [Woodbrook GC, nr Bray, Co. Wicklow].

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

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Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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