British Open winner Darren Clarke has told those who questioned his drinking to concentrate on the serous things in life – like the Norway massacre.

Clarke has slammed those who criticized his celebrations after his Sandwich triumph.
Clarke, speaking to Irish Central at the Irish Open in Killarney, has hit back at the critics of his lifestyle.

The Ulsterman has been astounded by the reaction to his celebrations and reminded people that there are more serious matters in life – like the murder of innocent teenagers in Norway.

“People need to get real – what happened in Norway is far more important than whether or not I had one pint too many,” blasted Clarke.

“Look what happened in Norway over the weekend.  I won a golf tournament and people are concerned about whether or not I had one pint too many. I mean, get a life.  It’s sport.

“I am very fortunate to have won the Open but you have over 80 people that got murdered in Norway.  That’s a lot more important than talking about whether I had one pint too many or not.

“That’s my opinion.  That’s the bit that surprised me with all the reaction to my win.

“There’s been a little bit of chat about - he shouldn’t have had a drink, he shouldn’t have done this, he shouldn’t have done that.”

Clarke understands that people will examine every aspect of his life after his Open triumph a fortnight ago but he has no intention of changing his ways.

He added: “People are always entitled to their opinion and you respect people’s opinions. But you know, I look at things a little bit different.

“There has been debates and radio shows and phone-ins and that sort of stuff. People are entitled to their opinions but there are bigger and more important things than me winning a golf tournament.

“And I’m not going to change anything that I do.  Why?  I think it would be very poor of me if I was to change the way that I am because of a few people’s opinions, and that’s not going to happen.”