One of Paul McGinley’s earliest Irish Open memories was being left star-struck as Christy O’Connor Sr gave everyone the sign of the Cross as he lifted off in a ‘spaceship’.
It was 1975 and McGinley was just nine years old.
His father, Michael took McGinley to Woodbrook Golf Club in Co. Wicklow where O’Connor’s young nephew, Christy O’Connor Jr won his first-ever European Tour event from Scotsman Harry Bannerman.
But it was memories of O’Connor Sr that live with McGinley 39-years on heading into this week’s Irish Open at Fota Island.
“I remember Christy O’Connor Sr going off in a helicopter which I thought was like a spaceship at that stage,” said McGinley smiling.
Paul McGinley making the Sign of the Cross as he recalls his earliest Irish Open. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
“And I remember he was at the window of the helicopter and we were all looking at him, and as he was being lifted up, he gave the sign of the Cross to everybody.
“That’s a good memory but that’s also a long time ago, but it was certainly funny.”
McGinley is back to Cork for a first time in a dozen years but finding himself dealing with issues concerning the Ryder Cup – now just 100 days away from getting under way on September 26th.
After while impressed with Martin Kaymer’s stunning 8-shot triumph at Pinehurst McGinley reckons Ryder Cup selection honours were shared.
In fact, lost in the ease of the Kaymer’s Pinehurst blitzkrieg were three Americans who finished inside the top-10 to also strengthened a grip on qualifying automatically for Tom Watson’s USA Team.
They included Rickie Fowler, who was tied second and is now seventh on the Ryder Cup points table, Dustin Johnson, joint fourth at Pinehurst and up to third overall on the points table, while Jimmy Walker who shared ninth place behind Kaymer remains second on the USA team table.
“The Americans, and Tom Watson will be sitting back very happy with the U.S. Open from his perspective,” said McGinley.
“A lot of his potential team featured very strongly, Top‑10s, Top 15s, and his team seems to be taking shape, as well, too.
“So it was a very strong U.S. Open from a European and USA perspective for both teams.”
