Irishman O'Connor selected for Golf Hall of Fame

[May 13, 2009]  BALTRAY, Ireland (AP) -- Christy O'Connor of Ireland has been selected for the World Golf Hall of Fame for his 24 victories on the European Tour and his 10 appearances in the Ryder Cup.

O'Connor was chosen through the Veterans Category and will be inducted Nov. 2 at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla.

"This is a fantastic honor, not only for myself and my family, but for the whole of Ireland, and in particular, all my friends in professional golf ... who helped me enjoy a wonderful career in the game," O'Connor said.

He will be the second Irishman in the Hall of Fame. The late Joe Carr was inducted as part of the 2007 class.

O'Connor's career spanned four decades, with two victories in the British Masters and 10 victories in the Irish PGA. He never won a major, finishing one shot behind in the 1958 British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.

He won the European Tour's Order of Merit in 1961 and 1962, and he was a stalwart for Great Britain & Ireland in the Ryder Cup, playing on 10 teams with a record of 11-21-4 during an era of U.S. dominance. O'Connor was on the 1957 team that won at Lindrick Golf Club, ending the Americans' 12-match winning streak.

O'Connor, 84, is part of the 2009 class that so far includes Lanny Wadkins, elected last month through the PGA Tour ballot.

[Associated Press]

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