Golf: Christy O'Connor Jnr's year has just got better, without him hitting a shot. Late last week, a letter from the United States Golf Association (USGA) dropped through his door - and it bore the news that he has been invited to play in the US Seniors Open at the Inverness Club in Toledo next month.
"I'm over the moon, to be honest," said O'Connor, who next week competes in the first senior major of the season, the US Senior PGA in Philadelphia.
"I believe I get into the field as a past champion of the British Seniors Open - which has been added onto the Champions Tour schedule this year - and it has given me a real boost for the coming weeks."
In all, the USGA have announced 79 exempt players - the rest of the field will be made up of those who emerge from a number of qualifying events - and, in addition to defending champion Don Pooley, nine other past winners are: Dale Douglass (1986), Dave Eichelberger (1999), Hale Irwin (1998 and 2000), Larry Laoretti (1992), Graham Marsh (1997), Jack Nicklaus (1991 and 1993), Arnold Palmer (1981), Gary Player (1987 and 1988), and Dave Stockton (1996).
Des Smyth - who secured a tied-third finish in the Columbus Southern Open, won by Morris Hatalsky last weekend - is also exempt into the US Seniors Open, by virtue of his current position in the top 20 on the moneylist.
Smyth has now moved up to 17th in the Order of Merit - with current earnings of $434,938 - while Eamonn Darcy is 37th, with earnings of $200,629 from only four starts.
Smyth plays in this week's Music City Championship in Nashville, but Darcy, who is second alternate, must wait to see if he gets into the field.
