The Irish Open - 1983 - 1985

1983

• Champion: Seve Ballesteros (Spain)
• Score: 271, -17 (67, 67, 70, 67)
• Date: August 11-14
• Format: 72 holes over 4 days.
• Runner-up: Brian Barnes (England) 273 (-15)

The great Seve Ballesteros came to The Royal Dublin as the recently-crowned Masters Champion, his second time to win the coveted Green Jacket. Ray Floyd, a three time Major winner, and fellow Ryder Cup competitor Curtis Strange led the American challenge. Bernhard Langer, Nick Faldo, and Mark James, who had won the Carrolls Irish Open in 1979 and 1980, were among the fancied contenders for a title that was rated as second only to The Open Championship on the European Tour.

Langer set the scoring tone for the week with 64, eight under par, to lead by a shot after round one from Bernard Gallacher (Scotland) on 65. Brian Barnes of England (66) and Seve Ballesteros (67) were in close proximity to the leader. By the halfway mark, Langer (70)  and Ballesteros (67) jointly topped the leaderboard on -10. After 54 holes, Langer had slipped off the pace with 74. Brian Barnes and Ballesteros ended the day tied for the lead on 204 (-12), after rounds of 67 and 70 respectively. 

An estimated 40,000 spectators thronged the links and saw Ballesteros at his imperious best. He rounded off a superb 67 with a spectacular 25 foot birdie putt on the 18th to clinch the title. Leading Irishmen were Eamonn Darcy, Ronan Rafferty, Jimmy Heggarty, all on 282 (-6). The Royal Dublin professional Christy O’Connor Senior, then aged 58, performed with great distinction, finishing on four under par. He was never over par in any of his four rounds.

1984

• Champion: Bernhard Langer (Germany)
• Score: 267 (-21)
• Date: August 2-5
• Format: 72 holes over 4 days.
• Runner-up: Mark James (England) 271 (-17)

Once again Royal Dublin was blessed with an abundance of talent on view for the Irish Open. Seve Ballesteros, the holder, was the recently crowned Open Champion, having won at St Andrews two weeks prior to coming to Ireland to defend his title. Bernhard Langer, Greg Norman, and Faldo, all with top-10 finishing places at St Andrews were among the contenders who fancied their chances of dethroning the Spanish maestro.

Overnight rain softened the course for the first round. Scotland’s Mike Miller and Jaime Gonzales of Brazil each shot 65 to head the field. New bunkers down the left of the 18th added to the challenge of “The Garden” for the professionals but Greg Norman declared his intention to take driver off the tee on that hole every time.

The big names were still jostling for position as Magnus Persson, a 19 year old Tour rookie from Sweden set the halfway mark at -13, 131 (66, 65), two shots ahead of England’s David Russell from Derbyshire (68, 65). Langer, Norman and former champion Mark James were three behind the leader but the holder, Ballesteros, languished seven shots adrift on 6-under par with two 69s.

Saturday brought great excitement for the huge galleries.  At the end of a birdie-filled day, Bernhard Langer, winner of the Dutch Open the previous Sunday, had stepped forward with a 67 to lead the field by a shot on 201 (-15), but just six shots covered the top 14 players. Langer then brought all his skills and determination to bear on the Sunday, finishing strongly with a closing 66 for 267, an Irish Open record 21 under par.

Mark James was best of the rest, on -17, 271. Ballesteros, Norman, and Graham Marsh were tied for third place two shots further back. John O’Leary, champion in 1982, was the leading Irishman, finishing tied-12 on 276 (-12).

1985

• Champion: Seve Ballesteros (Spain)
• Score: 278 (-6)
• *Won in sudden death playoff against Bernhard Langer.
• Date: June 20-23
• Format: 72 holes over 4 days
• Runner-up: Bernhard Langer (278) beaten in playoff.

The Irish galleries enjoyed a pre-tournament treat as the legendary Lee Trevino partnered The Royal Dublin’s maestro Christy O’Connor Senior in a four ball match against Seve Ballesteros, and the 1985 Masters champion and Irish Open title holder Bernhard Langer two days before the first round.

Everyone was a winner. Over 4,000 people saw Trevino and O’Connor Senior enjoy a  one stroke win over their illustrious and much younger opponents, with an aggregate 65. The Children’s Research Centre at Crumlin Hospital benefited to the tune of Ir£12,000.

Play on day one of the tournament was affected by storm force winds and rain. Only five players of the 144 starters broke the par of 71, and nine equalled it, including Ireland’s David Jones who forged his score in the worst of the weather. Early starters Ian Woosnam and Tour newcomer Richard Foreman of Kent took advantage of reasonable conditions in the morning by setting the pace at 66 and 67 respectively. Ireland’s Des Smyth was happy to finish on 68. Seve Ballesteros got home in 70, as did Sweden’s Ove Sellberg, but Langer (74), Trevino (78) and Nick Faldo (79) all struggled to cope with the stormy weather. Sandy Lyle, destined to win The Open Championship a few weeks later at Royal St George’s, failed to return a card. 

On day two the weather was mixed but not as severe as the Thursday. Seve Ballesteros came through the field and after 17 holes led by two shots, only to fall foul of “The Garden” at which he took seven. Ove Sellberg’s 68 for four under par 138 gave him a one shot margin on Ballesteros who finished on 69, and England’s Glen Ralph (68).  Bernhard Langer on 145 (+3) languished seven off the lead. Christy O’Connor Senior (61),  and Lee Trevino both made the cut on the mark at 149, seven over par.

The weather finally relented, and Sunday’s sunshine was matched by sparkling golf. Langer powered home in 63 for 278 (-6) and looked a certain winner, but Ballesteros dug deep into his reserves and came from three shots down with four holes to play to shoot 66 and force a sudden death playoff. In typical swashbuckling style, he clinched the victory on the second tie hole, the 18th with a birdie putt from 35 feet. The leading Irish players were Christy O’Connor Junior and Ronan Rafferty on 283 (-1).