[2] He is best known for defeating American Fred Couples at the 1989 Ryder Cup, helping Europe secure the trophy.

Rather, it was added to his name after he turned pro in the 1970s to distinguish him from his uncle Christy O'Connor, also a well-known professional golfer.

Despite all of this success in his late 20s, O'Connor did not immediately progress into one of the stars of the European golfing scene.

While young pros like Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, and Bernhard Langer were taking the European Tour by storm O'Connor was in the background during these years.

[5] Until his Ryder Cup heroics, O'Connor may be best known to international audiences for his performance at the 1985 Open Championship.

He played with champion Sandy Lyle in the fourth round and finished only two shots back, placing T-3.

He would build on this success, finishing in the top 30 of the Order of Merit every year, until winning the 1989 Jersey Open.

Some members of the British press referred to O'Connor as Europe's "weak link" entering the match.

O'Connor hit a solid drive down the middle of the fairway but, unable to cut the dogleg, required much more distance to reach the green.

As the 1990s approached, O'Connor was hitting his early 40s, around the time that many pro golfer's games declined.

[8] The victory qualified him for the NEC World Series of Golf, a prestigious winners-only event in America.

Despite rarely playing in the United States during the heart of his career he decided to join the Senior PGA TOUR in 1999.

For the 2001 Senior British Open, O'Connor was not able to play and defend his title due to an ankle injury sustained when his motorcycle fell on him.

[13] O'Connor died whilst on holiday with his wife Ann on 6 January 2016 in Tenerife, Canary Islands.