Irish golfing legend Christy O’Connor Jnr has died in Spain at the age of 67. O’Connor was on holiday with his wife in Tenerife and is believed to have died in his sleep.
In addition to his 17 professional wins and two Ryder Cup appearances, O’Connor was at the forefront of the PGA European Tour for over twenty years.
O’Connor also designed golf courses, with over 30 projects throughout Europe among them the inspiring and challenging Oceânico O’Connor Jnr course at the Amendoeira Golf Resort, Silves, where "its overall distance, the water hazards and big greens provide its challenge."
Representing Ireland at the World Cup, the Alfred Dunhill Cup, the Double Diamond, the Hennessey Cup and the Ryder Cup O’Connor later in his career won two Senior Open Championship titles and in 2015 received the a lifetime achievement award from publication Golf Digest.
For golf fans, Christy O’Connor Jnr was perhaps best known for hitting possibly the most famous shot in Ryder Cup history with a two-iron approach to the 18th green at The Belfry in 1989. The stroke ended up four feet from the hole, helping Tony Jacklin’s team retain the cup with a a 14-14 tie.
The nephew of another famous Galway golfer, Christy O’Connor, O’Connor Jnr forged a successful career as a golf course designer and was a fan of the Algarve and proponent of the Oceânico Group and its facilities at the Amendoeira resort.
Oceânico Group founders Gerry Fagan & Simon Burgess pay tribute to Christy O’Connor Junior
Having worked with and been privileged to have called Christy their friend, Gerry and Simon, as founders of the Oceânico Group, were shocked to learn of Christy’s passing:
“We were honoured that Christy agreed to design one of our golf courses in Portugal and touched that upon it’s completion, he agreed that it become known as the "O’Connor Junior Course" at our Amendoeira Golf Resort in the Algarve, Portugal
“As in every task he undertook, Christy was not content with managing from afar. He worked tirelessly with the construction team during all phases of the project and was never happier than when sat on a bulldozer working with the operators to ensure that his design vision was translated into reality.
"It is a testimony to his skill, intelligence and deep understanding of the game, honed by many miles walked upon some of the world’s greatest golf courses, that Christy was able to create something that has brought immeasurable pleasure to thousands of golfers who would acknowledge they own not a fraction of the skill possessed by one of Ireland’s greater golfers.
"Christy had that rare touch and warmth to befriend prince and pauper alike. He unfailingly took time to speak with everyone, no matter their background, nationality, colour, wealth, age, and in the case of golfers, their handicap. It mattered not to him their golfing ability, or even if they had never picked up a club, he just wanted everyone to experience a little of the fun that life and his chosen game had brought to him.
"Long after his O’Connor Jnr course was opened in Portugal, Christy would often arrive, typically unannounced and bearing a box of chocolates or a bottle of wine for the office staff who he had worked with in years gone by. After a round of golf with a friend or two he would sit himself in the clubhouse with a bottle of his beloved Portuguese red wine, telling stories and recalling happy days he’d enjoyed in many corners of the world.
"Not a man to announce himself with any expectation of recognition, he would often wander up to a group of players and quietly ask them if they’d enjoyed their game without even mentioning that he was the artist who had created the masterpiece upon which they had spent the last few hours.
"Christy was a man for whom his family meant everything. He set enormous store in the support of his wife, Ann, and their son Nigel and their daughter Ann. Whilst his profession took him to all corners of the world, he was never happier than when returning to his homeland and the warmth that its people rightly bestowed upon him.
"Now we must mourn the passing of someone who brought pleasure to millions through his exploits as a golfer, to millions more who have enjoyed, and will continue to enjoy the legacy of his designs for decades to come, and to the thousands of people who met him, spent time with him and are privileged to have call him a friend.
Christy, you were unique. God bless you and thank you.
Gerry Fagan & Simon Burgess
