CHRISTY O’CONNOR SNR celebrates his 87th birthday tomorrow.

WHEN he started on the European Seniors Tour back in 1998, Denis O’Sullivan’s chief rivals were people like Tommy Horton, Antonio Garrido, Brian Waites, Malcolm Gregson, Jose-Maria Canizares, Brian Huggett and Maurice Bembridge.

THE younger generation may have gained the impression that the misbehaviour which marred the 1999 Ryder Cup at Brookline was the first sign of trouble in a competition launched by wealthy British seed merchant Samuel Ryder back in 1927 to foster good relations between the people of the United States and Britain.