Darren Clarke wins British Open title in spectacular display

Continues amazing Northern Ireland wins in major championships

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, July 17, 2011, 1:13 PM

Updated Sunday, July 17, 2011, 1:38 PM

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Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke reacts after putting a birdie on the 12th green during the third day of the British Open Golf Championship at Royal St George's golf course Sandwich, England, Saturday, July 16, 2011. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

“It has been an emotional time – this win is for my boys,” declared Darren as he followed Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington into the Major winners’ enclosure.

“Everybody goes through difficulties and stuff and I have had a really tough one but it is fine. My boys were watching at home in Portrush and this is for them.

“We will have a long celebration now and I will be very, very hungover”!
Clarke held his nerve throughout Sunday’s win on a day when only four players finished under par for the tournament.

“It is all a bit of a daze but it is wonderful to have eventually won the Open and a first Major,” said Clarke.

“I just played sensible all the way around and the eagle at seven was great.”

Asked about winning the Open at his 20th attempt – a record – Clarke added:

“I guess I am a little bit different to everyone else but I always believed I could win it.

“I didn’t think my time had come and gone. I always believed I would get myself back up here and I always believed I would challenge and win one and now I have. It is wonderful.”Current US Open champion Rory McIlroy had to settle for a final round 73 and a seven over par title on his first competitive outing after winning at Congressional.

McIlroy even picked up a one shot penalty when his ball moved on the seventh green in a round and a tournament that just couldn’t finish quickly enough for the 22-year-old.

“I’m not a fan of tournaments that the outcome is predicted so much by the weather - it’s not my sort of golf,” said a frank McIlroy afterwards.

“All the amateur tournaments I’ve won were played on links courses but they were all relatively calm. I’m looking forward to getting back to America and getting back into some nice conditions.

“That’s the Open Championship and that’s the way some years go. You either deal with the weather or just wait for a year when it’s nice.

“My game is suited for basically every golf course and most conditions, but these conditions I just don’t enjoy playing in really.

“That’s the bottom line. I’d rather play when it’s 80 degrees and sunny and not much wind.”

Ominously, McIlroy added: “There’s no point in changing your game for one week a year.

“I’m going to spend a few days at home now getting my swing back to where it needs to be. The wind sort of messes it up a little bit.”

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allan07 | Jul 19, 2011, 02:11 AM EDT

Who cares about the bigoted gaa sport with their stupid rules. How can you become champions of the world with a sport that no-one else in the world plays. Get a life whoisit. I hate all gaeltic sport. Northern Ireland is the champions of golf (NOT THE SOUTHERNERS) Cant you get your stars. (Padraig Hopeless where was he). Of the US have tiger and hes been too busy playing around! HA HA. NORTHERN IRELAND IS NORTHERN IRELNAD AND WE DO NOT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE ROI. I want NI to have our own rubgy team and that would stop our players from being insulted when the ROI play the nationalist soldiers song. Its a IRA song. How insulting is that? Wake you idiot. I would become part of North Korea than have anythng to do with the Free State. Question for anyone. Why does the ROI play foreign sports such as football, cricket and rugby anyway. I thought you lot invented GAA as you didnt like the foreign sports. WE NORTHERN IRELAND ARE DOING GREAT ON OUR OWN SO PLEASE US ALONE. THANK-YOU VERY MUCH.

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whoisit | Jul 18, 2011, 07:11 PM EDT

@allan07 Firstly most people i know from northern ireland are big gaa fans, northern ireland doesnt officially have a flag, and im a big rugby fan but think its shameful that the irish rugby team had to do away with their national anthem in order to unite the country in a sport, maybe they should do as the soccer do,

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citizen69 | Jul 18, 2011, 05:54 PM EDT

@Whoisit: In soccer, most people from N.I. don't shout for 'Ireland' as Northern Ireland have their own team and the Republic of Ireland have theirs. In Rugby there is a combined island of Ireland team that represents both countries. In varying golfing team competitions N.I. golfers may combine with others to represent the island of Ireland, Great Britain or Europe (and they're proud to represent all three)... But in individual golf the golfers are playing for themselves while representing their own country. On TV statistics or online leaderboards beside each Northern Irish golfer you will see the abbreviation NIR and the Northern Ireland flag. Whereas with golfers from the Republic you will see the abbreviation IRE and the Tricolour flag. Also, in regards to the ALL IRELAND i would say the majority of people in N.I. aren't really interested in GAA.

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whoisit | Jul 17, 2011, 08:52 PM EDT

@allan07 dont get this whole "Northern Ireland" golf situation, when it comes to soccer ye shout for ireland, rugby ye shout for ireland, ye are proud of tyrone playin in the ALL IRELAND but ireland isnt good enough for ye when its an individual effort, maybe northern ireland should be allowed one team like england and america into the all ireland since ye are such a super state

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Aughavey | Jul 17, 2011, 03:55 PM EDT

Congrats to another Ulster golfer on form. Northern Ireland leading the way. Time for the Open to come to Ulster.

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allan07 | Jul 17, 2011, 02:52 PM EDT

Like i said in a previous article by sean on graeme mcdowell asking the silly question if Graeme Mcdowell was irish or British. I said Greame is Northern Irish and British. Likewise Rory Mcilroy and Darren Clarke. I said i wanted Darren to win the next major and today he has. I backed my words with cash on Darren at 150/1 with Bet365 at the beginning of the week. £200 at 150/1 so thats makes £30100 to collect. If you do not believe me look at my comments. To put the record straight all three golfers are NORTHERN IRISH (NEVER JUST IRISH) AND BRITISH. Being from the same county as Darren (Tyrone) i am so proud of him. Today is a great day for Northern Irish and British golf. (The Republic of Ireland had nothing to do with our success) So please dont include that lot from the south. Why should they steal our glory? To top it off Rory tweeted the British Broadcasting Corporation to state that it was a great day for NORTHERN IRELAND. NORTHERN IRELAND IS THE SUPER STATE OF WORLD GOLF. OWC our wee country has done us proud. Lets hope the pga championship provides another NORTHERN IRISH WINNER.

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