Des Smyth
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Des Smyth (born 12 February 1953) is an Irish golfer.
Smyth was born in Drogheda, County Louth. He 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.
Since turning fifty in 2003 he has had a successful career in senior golf, winning tournaments on both the Champions Tour and the European Seniors Tour.
Smyth represented Europe in the Ryder Cup in 1979 and 1981. He represented his country in the World Cup and the Alfred Dunhill Cup many times and was a member of the Irish team which won the latter in 1988.
He was one of Ian Woosnam's vice-captains at the 2006 Ryder Cup.
[edit] Tournament wins
Amateur
- 1968 South of Ireland Open Amateur
European Tour
- 1979 Sun Alliance Match Play Championship
- 1980 Newcastle Brown "900" Championship, Cold Shield Greater Manchester Open
- 1981 Coral Classic
- 1983 Sanyo Open
- 1988 Jersey Open
- 1993 Madrid Open
- 2001 Madeira Island Open
Other regular career wins
- 1979 Irish National PGA Championship
- 1985 Irish National PGA Championship
- 1986 Irish National PGA Championship
- 1990 Irish National PGA Championship
- 1995 Glen Dimplex Irish Match Play
- 1996 Irish National PGA Championship
- 2001 Irish National PGA Championship
Senior
- 2005 SBC Classic (Champions Tour), Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (Champions Tour), Arcapita Seniors Tour Championship (European Seniors Tour)
[edit] Team appearances
- Ryder Cup: 1979, 1981
- Alfred Dunhill Cup: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 (winners), 2000
- WGC-World Cup: 1979, 1980, 1982, 1988, 1989
- Hennessy Cognac Cup: 1980 (winners), 1982 (winners), 1984
- UBS Cup: 2001
