of professional golf in Northern Ireland. He and David Feherty were the first Northern Irish golfers to win consistently on the European Tour. Shortly after they retired, golfers like Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke would go onto greater success, winning major championships. Rafferty was one of the best European golfers during the 1980s and early 1990s. He won 12 official worldwide tour events between 1987 and 1993. By comparison, Nick Faldo, the best European golfer of that era, won 17 tour events during that timespan. Paul Azinger, the most victorious American golfer during that timespan, won only one more event than Rafferty during these years. Amateur wins 1979 Boys Amateur Championship 1980 Brabazon Trophy (tie with Peter McEvoy) Professional wins (14) European Tour wins (7) European Tour playoff record (1–4) PGA Tour of Australasia wins (5) PGA Tour of Australasia playoff record (1–0) South American Golf Circuit wins (1) Other wins (1) 1988 Equity & Law Challenge Results in major championships CUT = missed the half-way cut WD = Withdrew "T" indicates a tie for a place Summary Most consecutive cuts made – 5 (1988 Open Championship – 1990 Open Championship) Longest streak of top-10s – 1 Team appearances Amateur European Youths' Team Championship (representing Ireland): 1979 (winners), 1980 Jacques Léglise Trophy (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 1979 (winners) European Boys' Team Championship (representing Ireland): 1980 Eisenhower Trophy (representing Great Britain and Ireland): 1980 St Andrews Trophy (representing Great Britain and Ireland): 1980 (winners) Walker Cup (representing Great Britain and Ireland): 1981 European Amateur Team Championship (representing Ireland): 1981 Professional World Cup (representing Ireland): 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 Hennessy Cognac Cup (representing Ireland): 1984 Dunhill Cup (representing Ireland): 1986, 1987, 1988 (winners), 1989, 1990 (winners), 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995 Four Tours World Championship (representing Europe): 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 (winners) Ryder Cup (representing Europe): 1989 Record: 3 matches, 1 point (33% point percentage) All formats (W–L–H): 1–2–0 = 1 pt Singles: 1–0–0 = 1pt Foursomes: 0–2–0 = 0pts Fourballs: 0–0–0 = 0pts See also List of people on stamps of Ireland References External links Male golfers from Northern Ireland European Tour golfers European Senior Tour golfers Ryder Cup competitors for Europe RTÉ Sports Person of the Year winners Sportspeople from Newry Sportspeople from County Down People educated at Abbey Christian Brothers' Grammar School 1964 births Living people