Clarke realises Open dream

GOLF:THE CORONATION was belated, but arguably all the sweeter for the wait. And, in truth, who really saw this coming? In one of those uplifting deeds which sport, in all its glory, throws to the unsuspecting hordes on only the rarest of occasions, Darren Clarke won this 140th edition of the British Open over the quirky links of Royal St George's with a grace and display of shot-making that equalled any of those great champions who had gone before him.

On a grey day with a constant wind coming in off the English channel to accentuate the challenge, Clarke – a 42-year-old Ulsterman who had watched without the slightest touch of envy as two other players from his part of the world claimed Major titles over the past 13 months – took his turn to achieve destiny with a final round of 70 for a winning aggregate total of 275, five-under-par, which left him three strokes clear of runners-up Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson.

“It’s been a dream since I was a kid to win the Open, like any kid’s dream is,” said Clarke, after a day when he kept his composure and finished a job that was only half-done on Friday when he shared the midway lead and only three-quarters complete on Saturday evening when he finished with a one-shot lead over Johnson. Yesterday, there was no denying him, with even a traditional final-round charge from Mickelson failing to deflect him from his appointed course.

Clarke’s victory completed another extraordinary time for Irish golf, enabling him to join Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy – the past two winners of the US Open – in an elite group of Major champions. And, with Pádraig Harrington’s three Major title successes, going back to his breakthrough win in this championship in 2007, it means Irish players have won six of the last 17. Surely a golden generation in the sport.

In terms of emotion and sentiment, this win was hugely popular: in the grandstands, on every hillock on this corner of England and, most certainly, in the locker-room, where his peers have often wondered how he had gone through an honour-laden career without a Major. That sense of wonderment is now no more.

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In fact, Clarke revealed after his round that among those who had sent messages of support were Tiger Woods – who is currently sidelined with a knee injury – and McIlroy, who was paying his mentor back for advice sent to him on the night before his own win in the US Open at Congressional.

Clarke’s arrival at the top table of golf is a testament to his own self-belief and perseverance, having overcome personal trauma – with the death of his wife, Heather, to breast cancer in 2006 – to use a wonderful talent that first surfaced as an 11-year-old when his father George, a former soccer player with Glenavon and Dungannon Swifts, and mother, Hettie, took out family membership at Dungannon Golf Club. Now, some three decades later, he has enrolled in a champions’ club that dates back to 1860.

Oh, how those past masters would approve of the new champion, a player with a beautifully repetitive swing. And, on this occasion, an ability to use the putter – so often his Achilles heel in the past – with touch and feel.

For sure, there were times yesterday when Clarke must have wondered if this would be his day, most especially when Mickelson – playing with a sense of freedom that has been so absent on his past visits to the famed links courses that play host to the Open – went on a front-nine charge that included three birdies and an eagle by his seventh hole, at which stage he moved level at the top of the leaderboard.

Unfazed, however, Clarke stuck to his task. And, in truth, the roars that greeted the Northern Irishman’s play was louder than anyone’s. On the 564 yards par-five seventh hole, Clarke provided his answer to those who wanted to usurp him: there, he hit a perfect drive and, with 198 yards left to the pin, hit an eight-iron approach that landed 16 feet from the hole. He rolled in the eagle putt with authority.

In the lead again on his own, Clarke never relinquished it. Mickelson’s charge – covering the front nine in a mere 30 strokes – petered out on the homeward run as he missed some short putts and eventually signed for a 68, for 278.

Clarke could keep a much closer eye on his other principal opponent, as Johnson was playing alongside him. Johnson’s threat effectively disappeared on the 547 yards par-five 14th, where the long-hitting American – who had seen Clarke lay-up with his own approach shot – went for the green in two only to see his iron shot pushed to the right. It was last seen sailing above the out-of-bounds white stakes.

There and then, Clarke knew all he had to do was to get home safely. And he did, even if he finished bogey-bogey. The main thing was that he had kept any calamity off his card and his 70th stroke of the round and his 275th stroke of the championship was no more than a tap-in from an inch.

The sound of the ball rolling into the tin cup provoked raucous roars from the huge galleries, acclaiming golf’s newest champion. “You never really think you’re safe until you’re on the 18th green with a couple of shots ahead. You never know what’s going to happen and I got a couple of good breaks that went my way. Yesterday (Saturday) I played as good as I could play from tee to green and I didn’t really get anything out of it. Today (Sunday) I played not bad; I played okay. But I got a couple of good breaks but also at the same time hit lots of great putts which burnt the edges and didn’t go in. So it sort of balanced out.”

Of his breakthrough win and how he managed to keep his emotions in check in getting the job finished, he explained: “I’m just older, just a little bit older and allegedly a little bit wiser. But I certainly had a few thoughts going through my head when I was walking onto the green on 18 because, at that stage, I could have four putts from there.

“Even I figured I could manage to get down in four from the edge of the green there. But the few thoughts, thinking about the past, and then making a speech, I can only be as normal as I am. So if I didn’t feel a little bit emotional it wouldn’t quite be right.”

Mickelson, whose front-nine assault seemed likely to gatecrash Clarke’s coronation, was among those to express sincere congratulations: “I’m really happy for him. He is one of the first people that called us, Amy and I, a couple of years ago (after Mickelson’s wife was diagnosed with breast cancer). He’s been through this and we couldn’t have had a better person to talk to. It was fun to make a run at him . . . but I couldn’t be happier for him.”

TOP OF THE WORLD: Ireland's recent Major men . . . . .

2007 British Open

Pádraig Harrington is six behind Sergio Garcia with a round to go at Carnoustie and after charging into contention double bogeys the last. Garcia, though, bogeys it to fall into a tie and the Dubliner birdies the first extra hole, then holds on.

2008 British Open

Harrington, doubtful beforehand because of a wrist injury, plays a brilliant back nine highlighted by an eagle on the 17th for a four-shot win over Ian Poulter at Birkdale. He is the first European to retain the title since James Braid in 1906.

2008 US PGA Championship

Garcia and Harrington go head-to-head again at Oakland Hills and the result is the same as Europe's 78-year wait for a winner of the title is ended. Harrington birdies the 17th – Garcia was closer and then missed – and a 15-footer at the last secures victory.

2010 US Open

Tony Jacklin was the last European winner of the trophy in 1970 and with Dustin Johnson three clear at Pebble Beach after 54 holes it does not look good again. But Johnson has an early triple and double bogey, crashes to an 82 and world number 37 Graeme McDowell holds his nerve to win by one.

2011 US Open

Two months after a closing 80 when four ahead at the US Masters Rory McIlroy starts at Congressional with a 65. From three in front he goes six clear with a 66, then eight ahead with a 68, setting 36-hole and 54-hole records. No nightmare this time, the trophy goes straight back to Northern Ireland.

2011 British Open

English amateur Tom Lewis and 2003 Sandwich runner-up Thomas Bjorn lead after opening with 65s, but at halfway it is Clarke and American Lucas Glover out in front. A Saturday 69, one of only three sub-70 scores in the wind and rain, leaves Clarke one ahead and at the 20th attempt he becomes British Open champion.