Tributes on death of amateur golfer Peter McEvoy

Fota Island golf course is based on original design by English golfer and Christy O'Connor Jnr

Peter McEvoy played on five Walker Cup teams and captained the side to victory in 1999 and 2001. File Pic: David Cannon /Allsport

Peter McEvoy, who was the first British amateur to make the cut in the Masters, has died at the age of 72.

McEvoy finished 53rd at Augusta National in 1978, the same year in which he claimed the second of his back-to-back Amateur Championship victories at Royal Troon.

McEvoy also won the silver medal awarded to the leading amateur in the Open Championship in 1978 and 1979, played on five Walker Cup teams and captained the side to victory in 1999 and 2001, the first time Great Britain and Ireland had won consecutive events.

Awarded an OBE in 2003, McEvoy is survived by his wife Helen and their children Cameron, Richie, Douglas and Mary.

McEvoy was also involved in golf course design including in Ireland. 

Fota Island golf course, which opened in the early 1990s, is based on an original design by McEvoy and the late Christy O’Connor Jnr. It was the first course designed by McEvoy.

“I made the mistake of trying to create 18 feature holes, particularly 18 feature greens,” McEvoy said years later.

“You get so excited that it’s your first design that you take all of your ideas and experience and pile them in together. But you can’t have 18 feature holes because you have to give golfers a break. If you create those holes, the course becomes too oppressive and I know that the greens have been redone at Fota, largely because I went at it too enthusiastically.”

Great Britain and Ireland Captain Peter McEvoy reaches out to hug Irish golfer Paddy Gribben who made the winning putt to beat America 15-9 in the Walker Cup at Nairn Golf Club in Scotland on September 12 1999. File Pic: Ian Stewart/AP

Mark Darbon, chief executive of The R&A, said, “We have lost one of amateur golf’s most respected figures with the passing of Peter McEvoy.

“Peter was an outstanding amateur golfer and enjoyed an illustrious career, including his two victories in The Amateur Championship and success in the Walker Cup. He also worked so hard to develop the game as an administrator and help provide opportunities for aspiring players.

“Peter was dedicated to the amateur game, choosing not to turn professional, and will be widely missed across the golf world. On behalf of The R&A and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews I would like to offer our deepest condolences to Peter’s family at this sad time."

England Golf chief executive Jeremy Tomlinson said: "Peter was an incredible amateur golfer in so many regards - as a player, a teammate, a captain and then supporting inspiration to worldwide golf, and of course especially to England Golf.

"We have lost one of our heroes, which is amazingly sad, and at this time we share our deepest sympathies with all Peter's family and friends.

"An inaugural inductee to our England Golf Hall of Fame, he will forever be remembered and celebrated as one of our very best."