Ronan Rafferty
Name:
Ronan RaffertyCountry:
N. IrelandBorn:
Jan 13, 1964 in Newry, N. Ireland.Original/Home Club:
Warrenpoint GC and Ardglass GC.Occupation:
Professional golfer, TV & radio commentator; golf writer.Turned Pro:
1981Website:
https://www.ronanraffertygolf.comEurope
Hohe Brucke
Played as the Hohe Brucke Austrian Open (Aug 12-15; Eurpn Tr event). Rafferty (N.Ire) beat Anders Sorensen (Den) in a playoff. [West course, Colony Club Gutendorf, Himberg, nr Vienna].
Europe
x
Played as the Portuguese Open (March 19-22). Second-placed Anders Forsbrand (Swe) finished 1 shot behind Ronan Rafferty (N.Ire). [Vila Sol Resort, nr Vilamoura, Algarve, Portugal].
Europe
PLM
Played as the PLM Open (Aug 2-5; in 1991 the PLM Open was merged into the Scandinavian Enterprise Open to create the Scandinavian Masters tournament). Second-placed Vijay Singh (Fiji) finished 4 shots behind Rafferty (N.Ire). [Bokskogens GC, Bara, nr Malmo, Sweden].
Europe
Ebel
Played as the Ebel European Masters Swiss Open. Second-placed John Bland (RSA) finished 2 shots behind Rafferty (N.Ire). [GC Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans-Montana, Switzerland].
Awards
Volvo
Rafferty (N.Ire) won the Harry Vardon Trophy as the European Tour 1989 Volvo Order of Merit winner, with earnings of £400,311 on the Tour. Jose Maria Olazabal (Esp) was second with £336,239; Craig Parry (Aus) was third with £277,321.
Europe
Lancia
Played as the Lancia Italian Open. Second-placed Sam Torrance (Scot) finished 1 shot behind Rafferty (N.Ire). [Red course, GC Monticello, Cassina Rizzardi, nr Como].
Europe
Scandinavian Enterprise
Played as the Scandinavian Enterprise Open (Aug 3-6). Second-placed Michael Allen (USA) finished 2 shots behind Rafferty (N.Ire), who recorded his second European Tour win. [Royal Drottningholm GC, nr Stockholm; at the time known as Drottningholm GC].
Europe
Volvo
Played as the Volvo Masters (Oct 26-29; Eurpn Tr season-ending event). Second-placed and defending champion Nick Faldo (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Rafferty (N.Ire). [Valderrama GC, San Roque, Spain].
Europe
Equity & Law
Played as the Equity & Law Challenge (Oct 17/18; unofficial Eurpn Tr money event over 54 holes; pts accumulated based on eagles and birdies). Second-placed and defending champion Barry Lane (Eng) finished 1 point behind Rafferty (N.Ire). [Composite course, Royal Mid-Surrey GC, Richmond, Surrey].
Aus/NZ
Nissan-Mobil
Played as the Nissan-Mobil New Zealand Open (Dec 10-13). Ronan Rafferty (N.Ire) beat Larry Nelson (USA) with a par at the seventh sudden-death playoff hole. [Wellington GC, Heretaunga, Upper Hutt, nr Wellington, NZ; from 2004 Royal Wellington GC].
America
x
Played as the Venezuelan Open. Won by 18-year-old Rafferty (N.Ire), who recorded his first win as a professional. [Lagunita CC, nr Caracas, Venezuela].
Amateur
R&A
Played as the Boys Amateur Championship. Rafferty (N.Ire) beat D. Ray 6 and 5 in the 36-hole final match. [Kilmarnock (Barassie) GC, Troon, Ayrshire].
Chevron Championship: Carlton Woods near Houston in Texas provides the stage for the first women’s major championship of 2025, where Nelly Korda defends her title. (April 24-27).
Soudal Open: successor to the Belgian Open, the Soudal Open takes place on the quiet, wooded North course of Rinkven Golfclub. Belgian stars Thomas Pieters and Nicolas Colsaerts will be vying for top honours. (May 22-25).
Rory McIlroy: with his 2025 win in The Masters, Rory joined the pantheon of golfing greats who have achieved a career Grand Slam of men’s majors ... Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are the only others in this select band.
Bernhard Langer: he may have played in his last Masters Tournament, but the 67-year-old German will be trying to extend his own record, and win a 13th senior major title at the 36th Regions Tradition. (May 15-18).
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.
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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