Ryder Cup legend Christy O'Connor Junior may not call it a day at the end of this season after all.

Junior, 53, is reported to be fed up with the non-stop travelling and airport congestion on the US PGA Seniors Tour.

But the Galway ace admits that he just can't stand the thought of giving up the game he loves.

Said O'Connor: "I love this game and when you're swinging well you can't see yourself stopping.

"Breaking my leg was a huge blow and I can't say yet what I'm going to do. But I'd love to make it a hat trick of titles in the Senior British Open at Royal County Down against Tom Watson and maybe even Jack Nicklaus and Hale Irwin."

O'Connor still hasn't found his best form after dropping a Harley Davidson on his leg in February last year.

But his first big test comes in next week's ó310,000 AIB Irish Seniors Open at Adare Manor.

He said: "I think the tournament will be fantastic. As for my own form, well I've played a few tournaments and obviously it takes a lot to come back from a broken leg, a very badly broken leg I should say.

"I had the real McCoy - 13 pins and two bolts in my leg for over nine months. That took a lot out of me. I never took a golf shot all last year so naturally it's taken its toll, but I'm not hitting the ball badly at all and I'm certainly confident of a decent week. To say I'm going to win is difficult but I'll be trying to win, put it that way."

An Irish Open win would out O'Connor right in the mood to 'defend' his British Senior Open title at Royal County Down this summer.

"I call it defending because I missed out last year. To make it a hat trick this year would be tremendous after winning in 1999 and 2000.

"Giving up? My family is here in Ireland and I miss my family an awful lot. Especially if my wife Anne doesn't travel, it's a hell of a scene out there I can tell you.

"But who knows. If I can get my game going again his year I'll have to see what I'll do. I love the course design aspect too so it's hard to give up on both of them."

US Senior Tour star Bruce Fleisher is also in the field for Adare Manor and keen to repeat his three shot win at Tulfarris in 2000.

And O'Connor reckons that the big Yank could be the man to beat.

"Bruce is playing pretty well. His game is right on song. On paper he'd be the one to beat. There are a lot of good players, Ian Stanley, the Senior Open champion and Seiji Ebihara the defending champion but it's going to be a great tournament and a wonderful venue and hopefully on the road to bigger things happening down there in Adare," said O'Connor.

O'Connor is keen to start a senior version of the Ryder Cup and Adare would be the perfect venue.

He said: "The practice ground is second to none, the course is fantastic and the accommodation is top of the tree. It's a wonderful name to carry on your bag. It's a wonderful name.

"I've been pushing this Senior Ryder Cup idea for a few years and Dave Stockton and Jack Nicklaus have been supportive

"The idea would be to play it to exactly the same format as the real Ryder Cup and I think it would be lovely to continue it into the Seniors with Darcy, Sam Torrance, Des Smyth and all the great players that are about to turn 50."

But travel continues to be O'Connor's cross and could yet force an early retirement

"Most of the guys in the States use a private jet to get around but it wouldn't be worth my while, too expensive. I'm not a great flyer to be honest with you.

"I never have been a great flyer. Darcy always said that if one thing will help me give the tour up it would be my flying."

With earnings of just ¤48,689 this season, O'Connor's retirement plans might go on hold should he pick up the ¤46,500 top prize at Adare Manor.

Royal Dublin
Members of the Royal Dublin club have approved a ¤2 million course improvement plan.

Said captain Liam Meaney: "These are exciting times for Royal Dublin. We're going to spend over ¤1.9 million on the golf course that will include the Martin Hawtree redesign, a state of the art irrigation system and better seas defences.

"It's an ambitious plan of not more than five, probably four years and the objective is to get our course up there in the championship ratings."

Fuzzy and Co
Ben Crenshaw and Fuzzy Zoeller will play in the Senior British Open, but not this year.

While Tom Watson has agreed to play at Royal County Down, Crenshaw and Zoeller have decided to play for official prize money at home.

Said Crenshaw's manager Scott Sayers: "Ben would very much like to come over to the senior British open, some time soon, I know. He was hoping to go this year, but as this is his first season on the Senior Tour he's hoping to play as many events as he can over here to establish himself. Next year we are hoping to make the visit>"

The fact that the Senior British Open is not recognised as a Senior Major officially a Senior Major has cost the event dear.

But the indications are that the European Seniors Tour and the PGA Seniors Tour have come to an agreement to make it a dual badge event next season.

Said Zoeller's spokesman Dave Lubeck: "We had contemplated coming over but it's not an official event on the Senior tour and the money's not official.

"Fuzzy has just decided to stay here and support the senior tour. My understanding is that next year it's going to become an official part of the Senior Tour. Until that happens it's just not wise to take a full week off."

Plans
Plans for the new National Golf Centre at Hilton Templepatrick are still on hold.

The £2.3 million centre ­ comprising a state of the art driving range and indoor facilities ­ is awaiting planning permission.

Said Ulster branch secretary Brendan Edwards: "It's two years since we started but we're waiting on final planning permission from the local council.

"We're tied into legal details at the moment and it's difficult to get started but you can't push these things. Hopefully it's going to be the best driving range in Ireland."

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© Brian Keogh 2002

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