Darren Clarke remembered his late wife Heather as he came to terms with his British Open success and life as a Major winner.
Less than a month after Rory McIlroy’s triumph in the US Open at Congressional, Clarke stormed his way to the Open title at Sandwich.
Ranked 111th in the world going into the tournament and without a top 10 finish in a major in over a decade, Clarke finally lifted the British Open crown at the 20th time of asking.
As he celebrated with a pint of his beloved Guinness, Clarke admitted he had some help ‘from above’, six years after his wife Heather died of breast cancer.
Now happily back home in Portrush, where he lives with sons Conor and Tyrone and fiancée Alison Campbell, Clarke remembered Heather in his hour of triumph.
“In terms of what’s going through my heart there’s obviously somebody who is watching down from up above,” he said.
“I know she’d be very proud of me. She’d probably be saying ‘I told you so’. But I think she’d be more proud of my two boys. It’s been a long journey.
“If I hadn’t won I could still have said I did my best. I ask my two boys to do their best and I can’t ask for any more, so I think their dad should try and do the same.
“Bad times in golf are more frequent than the good times. I’ve always been pretty hard on myself when I fail because I don’t find it very easy to accept that.
“There’s times I’ve been completely and utterly fed up with the game, but friends and family say ‘get out there and practice and keep going’. That’s why I’m sitting here now.
“It’s been a long and bumpy road, I have had some good things happen to me and some bad things, but I’ve had so much support from an awful lot of people.
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“I’d like to thank my parents and my fiancée Alison, and there’s someone up there watching as well.”
Clarke is the third Major winner from Northern Ireland in the last 13 months, following on from the US Open triumphs of Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy.
Reigning US champion McIlroy branded the North as the ‘golf capital of the world’ on Twitter after Clarke’s victory and the Open winner agrees.
“It’s just incredible,” said the 42-year-old after becoming the oldest winner of the British Open since 1967.
“We’re blessed to have two fantastic players in Rory and G-Mac and I’m just the old man coming along behind them. It’s fantastic, just brilliant for home.
“We have fantastic golf courses, we have fantastic facilities, but to have three Major champions from a little, small place in a short period of time, it’s just incredible.”
Clarke also revealed that he had received encouragement from Tiger Woods via text messages before Sunday’s final round. And he was bowled over by the reception he received as he sealed his win.
“I certainly had a few thoughts going through my head when I was walking onto the green at 18. If I didn’t feel a little bit emotional it wouldn’t quite be right,” Clarke said. “I was, but just about managed to cling onto it.
“It’s just incredible, I don’t know what to say. It’s been a dream since I’ve been a kid to win the Open.”
Due to start a Weightwatchers diet on Monday, after encouragement from his manager Chubby Chandler, Clarke may now postpone his proposed weight loss.
“Chubby might give me an extra day off if I’m nice to him,” laughed Clarke. “I’ll probably get bored with it in a week and give up.
“There’s five points in a pint of Guinness - I think it’s a real bad week for me to start.”
15 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.themurphia | Jul 20, 2011, 06:35 PM EDT
Before the 'rocks for jocks' brigade get on my case that should've been NE corner of Ireland...looks 'round sheepishly to see if any one noticed...!:-\
themurphia | Jul 20, 2011, 04:52 PM EDT
As for Darren Clarke being a role model...well if you call a fat unfit fag-smoking boozy old wreck a role-model then so be it...he is the definiton of why golf is not a sport...Funny that the proud NIrish man conforms to the stereotype of the drunken Irishman whereas the actual Irish golfers Harrinton McGinley et al look and behave like sportsmen...As for the censorship it's more likely that the ISP automatically deletes comments that contain offensive or suspicious terms...just a wee thought...so it is...!
themurphia | Jul 20, 2011, 04:24 PM EDT
Precisely...you reinforce my point...you do not consider yourself Irish or a member of the Diaspora so why are you interested in a paper aimed at the Irish Diaspora...other than to colonise it the same as the NW corner of Ireland...I repeat as far as I am concerned GOLF is a four letter word...If Tiger Woods Rory McIlroy Darren Clarke Padraig Harrington Paul McGinley or any of the rest of the golfing fraternity were playing in the back garden I'd pull the blind down...My point was not about golf but about people who despise the 'Irish' imposing their views on those who consider themselves Irish on an Irish blogsite...I wouldn't dream of reading let alone commenting on a a NIrish/Prod site so what is your reason for commenting here...Got it now??
allan07 | Jul 19, 2011, 08:05 PM EDT
themurphia - lets be fair and comment on the golfers from Eire. I didnt see Paul McGinley play so no comment. I did see Pardaig Harrington play but he didnt make the cut. Thats all we can say. Are you happy now themurphia as I have commented on the ROI golfers? Everyone happy? Good.
allan07 | Jul 19, 2011, 03:18 PM EDT
I am afraid i have said much but I am being censored by the editors and column writers. I believe a number of posts I have made have been destroyed. You dont have to live in Libya to be censored
allan07 | Jul 19, 2011, 03:14 PM EDT
Buffalobrave - People from North or South Korean but I am afraid in different countries. What about Cyprus (North or South)? What about Haiti and Dominion Republic. Small island but different countries. I have a horses and cowes in a large barn but they are not all horses and they are not all cowes either. We in Northern Ireland dont want anything to do with the ROI. Your broke and begging from us British people in any event.
allan07 | Jul 19, 2011, 03:08 PM EDT
Eileen - its NORTHERN IRISH. (not the ROI). Graeme, Rory and Darren all from Northern Ireland. Didnt you hear rorys tweet to the BBC its NORTHERN IRELAND ARE THE SUPERSTATE OF WORLD GOLF. Lets say it again NORTHERN IRELAND.
allan07 | Jul 19, 2011, 03:06 PM EDT
themurphia - Your Republic of Ireland golfer Padraig Hopeless didnt even make the cut. We in NORTHERN IRELAND have 3 major winners. When was the last time the ROI had 3 major winners? NEVER NEVER AND NEVER. It was good of Rory to tweet the BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION after Darren won the BRITISH Open Championship. As Hazel Irvine read Rory's tweet out to say that it was great news for Northern Ireland and 3 major winners in 13 months. The 3 can now be added to the long list of other BRITISH golfers such as Nick Faldo, Ian Woosie, Paul Lawrie and Sandie Lyle. Buffalobrave I am afraid your a bigot. I am NORTHERN IRISH AND BRITISH AND THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE THIS SIDE OF HELL FREEZING OVER. Frankly its very boring to hear the same old bullying tactics being used. If rory wants to say hes NORTHERN IRISH WHY CANT YOU RESPECT HIS WISHES? Who are you to push your silly opinion onto another individual. It was shown a few year back when Paul McGinley tried in vain to put a tricolour around Darren Clarke. He didnt want it and refused it. Why cause hes from NORTHERN IRELAND you idiot! Why cant the ROI find their own players?
Buffalobrave | Jul 19, 2011, 12:18 PM EDT
Clarke and anyone else born on the island of Ireland are Irish. British BS and propaganda will never change that! "Up The Irish"
EileenL | Jul 18, 2011, 10:58 PM EDT
Well done Darren ,great golf ,bursting with pride for THE IRISH
themurphia | Jul 18, 2011, 06:31 PM EDT
Has this paper been colonised as well as the 6 counties...?Seems it's either Brits or NIrish commenting on these forums...Which seems to be par for the course..yes...it was intended...Despite being a paper for the irish Diaspora most of thecomments are from those who are neither part of the diaspora or consider themselves Irish...Golf is a four letter word...Still just goes to show Prods predominate when it comes to small balls...!
allan07 | Jul 18, 2011, 03:45 PM EDT
GREAT RESULT DARREN FOR NORTHERN IRELAND AND BRITISH GOLF. Since your from Dungannon and my own county Tyrone its extra special that you have won. Seen you at Woburn Abbey a year back and you still enjoy the cigars. Good luck in your new life with Alison and family. Hope you win many more.
citizen69 | Jul 18, 2011, 01:00 PM EDT
Well Done Darren, another champion for Northern Ireland... Hope you enjoyed that well earned pint of Arthur!
hyattsville | Jul 18, 2011, 10:45 AM EDT
Delighted for Darren Clarke and what a boost for Northern Ireland and Northern Irish tourism I'd imagine after decades of bad publicity. A beautiful part of the Island.
torbreezy | Jul 18, 2011, 09:24 AM EDT
Darren Clarke . . . reminiscent of a "man of the people"--the redoubtable John Daly . . . .