Jack O’Connor (Kerry football manager)

Club: Waterville GC, Kerry

Handicap: 7

1 What’s your favourite golf tournament (amateur or professional) and why?

The Masters because of the picturesque setting of the course, there’s no other golf tournament like it – it has a magic all of its own. Never been there, I’m afraid the television is the closest I’ve ever got. It was a pity for Rory (McIlroy), just shows you what pressure can do to you. He might have been better coming from two or three shots back going into the final round.

2 Best TV golf memory?

Pádraig Harrington winning his first major, the British Open at Carnoustie. He held his nerve when the pressure was at its greatest. All these top golfers have their sports psychologists but there’s nothing like experience. The old adage says: “you have to lose one to win one” and Harrington had served his time. There’s not too many John Dalys who come out of the blue and win Majors. It’s down to confidence and experience of the situation and believing you can win.

3 Parkland or links? Why?

I’m a member of a great links course here at Waterville in Kerry; it has to be links. It’s the nature of the course, usually dry, very picturesque, the dunes and elevated greens make it more interesting than parklands.

4 What’s your hidden gem of a golf course and why?

A little links course here in Kerry called Dooks in Glenbeigh. Really nice course, tricky but very interesting.

5 How would you deal with someone you suspected of cheating, would you sign their card?

Tricky one this, you need to be 100 per cent sure. It’s a big thing to accuse someone of cheating if you are not sure as you are basically challenging their character. But if I was 100 per cent sure I’d take them up on it.

6 If you could introduce one rule, how would you combat slow play?

I do have an issue with slow play. Reducing the number of practice swings would be a good starting point. Some take five practice swings, step back, then take a few more, there’s just no need. Don’t think too much about it. Hit it and go find it as Arnold Palmer used to say.

7 Has equipment technology had a detrimental effect on genuine golfing talent/ability? If so, what changes would you make?

I suppose the equipment has to cater for all standards. As people get on in years they lose power so new clubs helps. That said, some professionals are devouring courses and some courses just weren’t meant to be played that way. For the professional game you might say it’s detrimental, but not at our club level, it enhances the enjoyment. I won our club singles competition back in the day but I’m a bad seven handicap these days, sometimes more like 17. Hard to get the time to play with all the football commitments.

8 150-yards to the hole, what club is in your hands?

Seven-iron, I wouldn’t be the longest hitter in the world.

9 Fashion stakes – Pringle or J Lindeberg?

I’d be fairly conservative, something middle of the road will do me fine.

10 More comfortable paying for price of a pint or ProV golf ball?

Not sure the exact meaning of this one, but I can tell you in our fourball we wouldn’t be playing for big stakes, maybe the odd €5 or skins is a good format. As for ProV balls, I wouldn’t be paying for new ones, I find enough down here in Waterville to do me!

11 Who is the greatest – Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods? Other?

Can’t say Tiger is the greatest but potentially he is. He has a good chance of surpassing Nicklaus’s Major record. I think another fascinating character was Ben Hogan. I’ve read a few of his books. Had very bad accident and still came back, one of the greats. Nicklaus was something else too; to win the Masters when he was 46, amazing. Probably the greatest pressure putter the game has ever seen too.

12 If you had one final round of golf who would be in the fourball and where?

I’d love to play Augusta. I’d have the rest of the Kerry management team in my fourball, Alan O’Sullivan, Ger O’Keeffe and Donie Buckley.