Irish eyes will be smiling for the second time in 12 months after Christy O’Connor Jnr became the first person to successfully defend his Senior British Open title at Royal County Down.
The Irishman, one off the pace at the start of the day, played beautifully to delight the home crowd and ensure the trophy would remain in the Emerald Isle after edging South African John Bland into second place.
O'Connor, the Ryder Cup hero from 1989, was glad to have won before his son Nigel goes away to study.
“I thought last year after winning at Royal Portrush, it couldn’t get better. But I’ve had my son Nigel with me for the last six weeks and wanted to win it for him.
“I had a chance to win in America a few weeks ago and let it slip but he was here caddying for me this week and I appreciate that. I would like to thank my family and friends who have come up from Galway for their support. I needed them badly today
“To win on one of the greatest courses in the world is very special. I spoke with Tiger last week and he told me we were in for a treat. When he last played here he shot 83!
“To win the Open on this course, well, it has made my whole life in golf.”
Bland’s final round of 71 wasn’t enough and he will look back and rue the way he played the par threes in the final round, as he had to settle for his third runners-up spot in this championship.
Bland needed at least a birdie at the last to force a play-off and nearly pulled it off. However, his chip from the side of the green just run out of steam and O'Connor sealed the win in style with a closing birdie.
On his opponent, O'Connor gracefully admitted: “Mr Bland is a tough customer and I thought his pitch was going in at the last."
