Who is the greatest Irish golfer of all-time? Here we name our No. 1, and also nine more golfers from Ireland, to create the Top 10 Irish Golfers of All-Time list. Of course, we'll update this ranking as warranted, because several of the golfers below are sure to move up. We include golfers from throughout the isle of Eire on this list - both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland golfers.
1. Padraig Harrington
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So far, Padraig Harrington is the only Irish golfer to win multiple professional major championships. Harrington was a top player for years before his career exploded in the mid-2000s. It was then (in 2005, to be exact) that he won his first USPGA title. Then in 2007 he won the British Open, and in 2008 added another Open Championship plus the PGA Championship. Through the end of the 2010 season, Harrington had 14 wins on the European Tour and five on the PGA Tour (both totals include the three majors).
2. Christy O'Connor Sr.
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Christy O'Connor Sr. is not really a Sr. at all. But when his nephew, also named Christy O'Connor, joined the European Tour, everyone started referring to them as Sr. and Jr. And that's how they are forever known.
O'Connor was a stalwart on the GB&I Ryder Cup teams; he shows up often on our Ryder Cup records page, alas, often for losses (O'Connor's career coincided with a Ryder Cup period of near-total US domination). But he was one of the best players in Europe from the mid-1950s into the 1970s, winning dozens of tournaments on the precursor to the European Tour. He never won a major, and played in only the British Open, but did post 10 Top 10s in the Open (and finished second in 1965).
O'Connor was a stalwart on the GB&I Ryder Cup teams; he shows up often on our Ryder Cup records page, alas, often for losses (O'Connor's career coincided with a Ryder Cup period of near-total US domination). But he was one of the best players in Europe from the mid-1950s into the 1970s, winning dozens of tournaments on the precursor to the European Tour. He never won a major, and played in only the British Open, but did post 10 Top 10s in the Open (and finished second in 1965).
3. Darren Clarke
For a long time, one could argue that Darren Clarke never quite lived up to expectations. But he definitely lived it up! And Clarke put together an excellent career in golf, primarily on the European Tour where he has more than a dozen victories. He also has wins on the USPGA and Japan tours. But until 2011, he had no wins in majors. That changed, however, at the 2011 British Open, where Clarke finally put his name on the Claret Jug. Clarke's previous best finishes at the Open were second in 1997 and third in 2001. Clarke also played in five Ryder Cups with a good overall record, in particular proving tough to beat in fourballs.4. Fred Daly
Fred Daly started winning tournaments in the late 1930s and continued into the 1950s. He is credited with 20-something professional wins (recordkeeping wasn't so great in those days), a total that surely would be higher except for that little skirmish known as World War II.Daly has the distinction of being the first Irishman to win one of golf's professional majors - he won the 1947 British Open. Another Northern Ireland golfer didn't win a major until Graeme McDowell at the 2010 U.S. Open. Daly had four other Top 4 finishes in the Open Championship.
5. Graeme McDowell
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Graeme McDowell was putting together a fine career prior to 2010. He had four wins on the European Tour. He wasn't anything spectacular, but was solid. And then 2010 happened. And 2010 was one of the most momentous years for any golfer of the Tiger Woods Era outside of Woods himself. McDowell won two "regular" Euro Tour events, won the U.S. Open, sank the winning putt in the Ryder Cup, then beat Woods head-to-head at Woods' own tournament. That's called having a good year, my friends.
6. Des Smyth
Des Smyth was a consistent, if unspectacular, player on the European Tour for many years, winning eight times. The first of those was was in 1979. In his last Euro Tour win, at the 2001 Madeira Island Open, Smyth broke the tour record for oldest winner. He was 48 at the time.Smyth also won the Irish National PGA Championship six times; won twice on the Champions Tour; and posted three wins on the European Seniors Tour. His best finish in a major was a tie for fourth at the 1982 British Open. He played in two Ryder Cups.
7. Rory McIlroy
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Rory McIlroy was only 22 years old when we added him to this list. Too soon? No - he deserves it already. McIlroy won the 2011 U.S. Open in dominating fashion; he won the 2010 Quail Hollow Championship by shooting 62 in the final round; and his first win as a pro was at the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic. Nothing cheap about those wins.
There are probably very few reading this who don't think that McIlroy will eventually be No. 1 on this list. But he's only 22, so let's be cautious and, for now, underrate him rather than overrate him.
There are probably very few reading this who don't think that McIlroy will eventually be No. 1 on this list. But he's only 22, so let's be cautious and, for now, underrate him rather than overrate him.
