Sport

Poignant scenes as O'Connor lifts Senior Open

Christy O'Connor Jnr brought his tournament earnings for the year to almost $500,000 when he became the first Irish winner of…

By DERMOT GILLEECE
Mon Jul 26 1999 - 01:00

Christy O'Connor Jnr brought his tournament earnings for the year to almost $500,000 when he became the first Irish winner of the British Senior Open at Royal Portrush yesterday. With a final round of 69, the 50-year-old Galwayman won by three strokes from South Africa's John Bland.

When victory was secured, 5,000 spectators witnessed a poignant family scene as O'Connor was congratulated by his wife Ann, his daughter Ann and his son Nigel. And by his own admission, he felt the presence of his youngest born, Darren, who was killed in a car accident last September.

"I must have used up all of Darren's good luck by now," said O'Connor, who made a breakthrough victory in the State Farm Senior Classic on the US Senior Tour early this month. "This is the first time that we've shared a victory as a family since Darren's death and it's been really wonderful."

He went on: "I'm also delighted to have won this for Christy Senior, who has been so supportive. Unfortunately this championship came a bit too late for him but I'm thrilled to be able to maintain the family tradition."

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As it happens, O'Connor is the first Irishman to win a professional tournament at Royal Portrush since 1947, when Harry Bradshaw captured the first of two Irish Open titles. Now, he will have the distinction of defending it at a new venue next year, when it moves to Royal Co Down.

Victories at Royal Portrush by Brian Barnes in 1995 and 1996, by Gary Player in 1997 and Brian Huggett last year brought considerable excitement to the Dunluce links. But nothing quite compared with the warmth of the reception accorded O'Connor as he approached the 18th green last night, needing only a double-bogey six for victory.

A week after Carnoustie, he was determined there would be no comparable slip-up. After a three wood off the tee and a six iron second shot, O'Connor used his putter from off the front of the green to ease an 80-footer to within 18 inches of the target. He then holed the tap-in to finish in style.

His next assignment is the Wentworth Senior Masters later this week. Then he is off to the US and a run of five tournaments, culminating in the Kansas City Classic which finishes on September 5th. Then he returns home for the first anniversary of his son's death, on September 7th.