Late and lamented John O’Leary was a true Irish golfing hero

IRISH golf lost one of its great heroes with the death last Friday of former European Tour and Ryder Cup player John O’Leary. Much has been written about his exploits in the days since his passing but I wanted to pen a piece about him as I got to know him in the last eighteen years or so.

On regular visits over the years to a golfing friend in the Surrey area of England, myself and my friend - himself a friend of O’Leary - would meet Johnno in the local pub where he held court each evening, and so I often enjoyed a pint and a chat with him.

When we were first introduced, he recalled winning the

Scratch Cup at Ballybunion in 1970, beating well-known golf writer Ivan Morris from Limerick on a countback in the 36-hole event, with well-known caddie Michael Dorgan on his bag.

Dorgan, a Dublin-based Cork man, caddied regularly for O’Leary as an amateur and then moved to the UK with him in 1970 to caddy for him on Tour, while in the winter months Dorgan made a living caddying for members at the prestigious Sunningdale club in Berkshire. In the late 1970s Dorgan and O’Leary parted ways and Dorgan returned to Ireland to caddy for Paddy McGuirk on the Irish PGA domestic circuit.

Anyway, back to O’Leary, who asked on that first occasion if I knew the late Pat Mulcaire and he recalled playing with him on several occasions in the late ’60s and early ’70s in events around the country and, of course, as members of the Irish amateur team.

John or “Johnno” took up the game of golf on a family holiday to Baltray in County Louth at the age of twelve and became a scratch player within just three years, after joining the Foxrock club in Dublin close to where he lived.

Known for his prodigious length from the tee, his flamboyant sense of dress and his famous afro hair-style, O’Leary forged a successful amateur career, finishing runner-up in the Irish Close to Vincent Nevin in 1969 at Rosses Point and winning the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch the following year, beating local hero Greg Young from Kilrush on the final hole. He also represented Ireland at the European Amateur Championships.

He turned professional in 1970 after winning the South of Ireland, dividing his time between the fledgling European Tour and the Sunshine Tour in South Africa during the winter months, winning twice in Europe and once in South Africa during a playing career that lasted until 1989.

He played on the British & Irish Ryder Cup team in 1975 at Laurel Valley in Pennsylvania along with fellow Irishmen Christy O’Connor Jnr and Eamonn Darcy.

However, his Ryder Cup record is one he wanted to forget, as he lost all four matches he played, including the final day singles to Hale Irwin, as the Americans, captained by Arnold Palmer, thumped the visitors by 21 points to 11.

Following his playing career, O’Leary became a Director of the European Tour and a member of the Ryder Cup committee, whilst holding down the position of Director of Golf at the Buckinghamshire Club just outside London.

He will always be remembered by Irish golfing fans for his victory in the 1982 Irish Open at Portmarnock where, in terrible weather conditions, he held off the challenge of veteran Englishman Maurice Bembridge to win by a single shot and become the first Irish winner of the event since Christy O’Connor Junior, seven years before at Woodbrook. O’Leary remained the last Irish man to win our national open until Padraig Harrington triumphed at Adare Manor Resort 25 years later in 2007.

Sadly, a long illness took its toll and he passed away at his home in Esher, Surrey on Friday, just five months short of his 71st birthday.