Desmond John Smyth (born 12 February 1953) is an Irish professional golfer. He won eight times on the European Tour between 1979 and 2001. He also had a successful senior career winning twice on the PGA Tour Champions and five times on the European Senior Tour between 2005 and 2012. He played in two Ryder Cup matches, 1979 and 1981.
Professional career Smyth turned professional in 1974 and was a member of the European Tour for over a quarter of a century. His best finish on the European Tour Order of Merit was seventh in 1988. He won eight tournaments on the tour across four different decades, breaking Neil Coles' record as the oldest man to win a European Tour event when he claimed the 2001 Madeira Island Open at the age of 48 years and 34 days. This record was broken by Miguel Ángel Jiménez (48 years, 11 months, 13 days) at the 2012 UBS Hong Kong Open.
Smyth represented Europe in the Ryder Cup in 1979 and 1981, losing on both occasions to the United States. Smyth also represented his country in the World Cup and the Alfred Dunhill Cup many times and was a member of the Irish team (alongside Eamonn Darcy and Ronan Rafferty) which won the latter in 1988. At the 2006 Ryder Cup, he was one of Ian Woosnam's vice-captains."Des Smyth & Peter Baker named Ryder Cup assistants"
After turning fifty in 2003, Smyth had a successful career in senior golf, winning tournaments on both the Champions Tour and the European Senior Tour. He was one of the co-designers, along with Declan Brannigan, of Seapoint Golf Links.
Smyth is the only golfer to win European Tour events in 4 different decades.
Personal life Smyth has a son, Greg, a horticultural student at IT Blanchardstown. Greg won Ireland's eighth largest lottery jackpot of €9,426,636 on 13 August 2008.
Amateur wins 1973 West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship
Professional wins (26) European Tour wins (8) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up15 Aug 1979Sun Alliance Match Play Championship1 up Nick Price28 Jun 1980 Newcastle Brown "900" Open−12 (67-70-70-69=276)1 stroke Graham Burroughs, Neil Coles, Greg Norman322 Jun 1980Cold Shield Greater Manchester Open−7 (67-71-69-66=273)Playoff Brian Waites428 Jun 1981 Coral Classic−6 (67-72-70-73=282)2 strokes Michael King, Bernhard Langer, John O'Leary530 Oct 1983 Sanyo Open−9 (72-66-70-71=279)1 stroke Hugh Baiocchi, Mark James623 Oct 1988 BNP Jersey Open−15 (69-68-69-67=273)Playoff Roger Chapman731 Oct 1993 Madrid Open−16 (65-68-68-71=272)3 strokes Domingo Hospital, José Rivero, Mark Roe, Wayne Westner818 Mar 2001Madeira Island Open−18 (66-70-68-66=270)2 strokes John Bickerton
European Tour playoff record (2–3) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11980Cold Shield Greater Manchester Open Brian WaitesWon with birdie on sixth extra hole21982Jersey Open Eamonn Darcy, Bernard GallacherGallacher won with par on fifth extra holeDarcy eliminated by birdie on second hole31984Sanyo Open Sam TorranceLost to par on first extra hole41986Whyte & Mackay PGA Championship Rodger DavisLost to bogey on third extra hole51988BNP Jersey Open Roger ChapmanWon with birdie on fifth extra hole
Other wins (9) 1979 Irish National PGA Championship 1980 Irish Dunlop Tournament, Carroll's Irish Match Play Championship 1985 Irish National PGA Championship 1986 Irish National PGA Championship 1990 Irish National PGA Championship 1995 Glen Dimplex Irish International Match Play Championship 1996 Irish National PGA Championship 2001 Irish National PGA Championship
Champions Tour wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up113 Mar 2005SBC Classic−5 (71-72-68=211)1 stroke Mark McNulty, D. A. Weibring224 Apr 2005Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf−8 (66-71-71=208)2 strokes Tom Jenkins
Champions Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult12005The Senior British Open Championship Tom WatsonLost to par on third extra hole
European Senior Tour wins (5) Legend Tour Championships (1) Other European Senior Tour (4) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up112 Nov 2005Arcapita Seniors Tour Championship−10 (68-68-70=206)2 strokes John Chillas25 Aug 2007Wentworth Senior Masters−6 (70-71-69=210)2 strokes Bob Charles35 Sep 2010Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters−10 (66-71-69=206)3 strokes Carl Mason426 Jun 2011Van Lanschot Senior Open−6 (71-74-65=210)2 strokes Peter Fowler, Tim Thelen52 Sep 2012Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters (2)−10 (72-66-68=206)1 stroke Peter Fowler
European Senior Tour playoff record (0–2) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult12005The Senior British Open Championship Tom WatsonLost to par on third extra hole22011Cannes Mougins Masters Juan QuirósLost to birdie on second extra hole
Other senior wins (2) 2011 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Raphael Division (with Mark James) 2012 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf – Raphael Division (with Mark James)
Results in major championships Tournament19751976197719781979The Open ChampionshipCUTCUTCUT
Tournament1980198119821983198419851986198719881989The Open ChampionshipCUTT31T4CUTCUTCUTCUTCUTCUT
Tournament1990199119921993199419951996199719981999The Open ChampionshipCUTT44CUTT27CUTDQT15CUT Tournament200020012002The Open ChampionshipT13T28 Note: Smyth only played in The Open Championship.
CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1977, 1980 and 1985 Open Championships) DQ = Disqualified "T" = tied
Team appearances Amateur European Amateur Team Championship (representing Ireland): 1973
Professional Ryder Cup (representing Europe): 1979, 1981 World Cup (representing Ireland): 1979, 1980, 1982, 1988, 1989 Hennessy Cognac Cup (representing Great Britain and Ireland): 1980 (winners), 1982 (winners), (representing Ireland) 1984 Alfred Dunhill Cup (representing Ireland): 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 (winners), 2000 UBS Cup (representing the Rest of the World): 2001, 2003 (tie)
See also List of golfers with most European Tour wins List of golfers with most European Senior Tour wins
References
External links