Saturday 14 May 2016 17:18, UK
Irish golfing great Christy O'Connor Snr has died at the age of 91.
A member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, O'Connor Snr played in 10 consecutive Ryder Cup tournaments between 1955 and 1973.
His nephew Christy O'Connor Jnr, also a Ryder Cup player, died suddenly in January at the age of 67.
The older O'Connor, known as 'Himself' among his fellow players, achieved a best finish of second in The Open Championship and went on to have a successful seniors career, winning six PGA Senior Championships.
Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke said: "Christy was in many ways the father of Irish golf and his death, so soon after that of his nephew Christy Jr, means that Ireland has lost two Ryder Cup legends in the space of five months.
"Christy Snr was a golf icon and a wonderful person as well. He did so much for the game he graced for many years while the Ryder Cup to some extent is what it is today because of his passion for it.
"Irish golf in particular and golf in general has lost one of its greatest heroes."
Ryder Cup director Richard Hills said: "Today we have lost not only one of the greatest Ryder Cup players the game has even seen, but an incredible man.
"My abiding memory of Christy is phoning him with George O'Grady to break the news that he'd been elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2009, and he wouldn't believe us.
"He said he'd only believe it if he saw it in writing, so I was dispatched to Royal Dublin to present him with a letter. As he read it, his face broke into a huge grin and he gave me a massive bear hug.
"The other thing that sticks out for me is how Seve Ballesteros used to watch him. When Seve, who as we all know was a genius of a player, first came out on tour in 1976, he would seek out Christy to watch him practise and watch his hands. Christy was built like a bull but he had incredible hands for golf.
"Christy did so much for the game of golf and his legacy will long live on. After the tragic, sudden death of his nephew, Christy O'Connor Jr, in January, golf has lost two of its greatest men.
"On behalf of everyone at the European Tour, our condolences go to the O'Connor family."
Sky Sports commentator Ewen Murray tweeted: "The loss of Christy Snr is sad, but what a great innings. At next week's Irish Open, we should celebrate the life of a truly great golfer."
