O'Connor Senior still our oldest swinger
Miguel Ángel Jiménez's remarkable run of wins since he turned 40 — 14 — brings back memories of some of Ireland's oldest swingers.
While Jiménez was 50 years and 133 days when he broke his own record as the European Tour's oldest winner in the Spanish Open on Sunday, he beat Des Smyth's mark of 48 and 34 days set at the 2001 Madeira Island Open when he captured the UBS Hong Kong Open at 48 and 318 days two years ago.
The Mechanic then beat his own record by winning in Hong Kong again at 49 and 337 days in 2014.
But as far as the Irish go, Christy O'Connor will take some beating, even if it wasn't a European Tour event.
Himself was 53 when he captured the Irish Professional Championship for a record-eqalling 10th time at Royal Dublin in 1978, beating Michael Murphy in a play-off after they had tied on 286.
Fred Daly was 47 when he beat Norman Drew by 3 and 2 to retain the Ulster Professional Championship at Portrush in 1958, and Harry Bradshaw was 45 in 1958 when he added the PGA Championship and the Canada Cup to his victory in the Irish Dunlop Tournament at Elm Park.
Bradshaw's last domestic success came two years later when he won both the Willie Nolan Trophy and the Michael Moran Cup, both for a 12th time.
Incidentally, Bradshaw's PGA win at Llandudno Golf Club in 1958 was the last Irish win in that championship as we prepare for this week's edition at Wentworth.
As for young winners, former PGA champion Matteo Manassero remains the youngest winner on the European Tour for his win in the Castelló Masters in 2010 at just 17 and 188 days.
Noh Seung-yul in Malaysia in 2010 (18 and 282 days) and amateur Danny Lee in the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic (18 and 213 days) were the men to overtake Seve Ballesteros, who set a record in 1976 when at 19 years and 121 days he captured the Dutch Open.
Rory McIlroy is still Ireland's youngest tour winner. He was 19 and 273 days when he claimed his first win in the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club.
Oldest winners on the European Tour
- Miguel Angel Jiménez 50 years and 133 days, 2014 Open de España
- Miguel Angel Jiménez 49 and 337 days 2014 Hong Kong Open
- Miguel Angel Jiménez 48 and 318 days 2012 UBS Hong Kong Open
- Des Smyth 48 and 34 days 2001 Madeira Island Open
- Neil Coles 48 and 14 days 1982 Sanyo Open
- Eduardo Romero 47 and 362 days 2002 Barclays Scottish Open
- Christy O’Connor 47 and 187 days 1972 Carrolls International
- Mark McNulty 47 and 95 days 2001 Mercedes-Benz South African Open
- Mark O’Meara 47 and 54 days 2004 Dubai Desert Classic
- Tom Kite 46 and 309 days 1996 Oki Pro-Am
- Harold Henning 46 and 295 days 1981 KLM Dutch Open
- Miguel Angel Jiménez 46 and 243 days 2010 Omega European Masters
- Miguel Angel Jiménez 46 and 180 days 2010 Alstom Open de France
Youngest winners on the European Tour
Matteo Manassero 17 and 188 days 2010 CASTELLÓ MASTERS Costa Azahar
Matteo Manassero 17 and 363 days 2011 Maybank Malaysian Open
Danny Lee (AM) 18 and 213 days 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic
Noh Seung-yul 18 and 282 days 2010 Maybank Malaysian Open
Seve Ballesteros 19 and 121 days 1976 Dutch Open
Paul Way 19 and 149 days 1982 KLM Dutch Open
Sergio Garcia 19 and 176 days 1999 Murphy’s Irish Open
Seve Ballesteros * 19 and 191 days 1976 Trophée Lancôme
Matteo Manassero 19 and 206 days 2012 Barclays Singapore Open
Sergio Garcia 19 and 267 days 1999 Linde German Masters
Rory McIlroy 19 and 273 days 2009 Dubai Desert Classic
Aaron Baddeley 19 and 331 days 2001 Greg Norman Holden International
*unofficial event
