THE Isle of Man has a strong connection to the British Open Golf championship winner Darren Clarke who claimed his first ever major win at Royal St George’s this afternoon.
Clarke visited the Isle of Man on a number of occasions during his time associated with Castletown Golf Club. His victory was celebrated across the Isle of Man this afternoon by the many friends the likeable Irishman made during his time in the Island.
The Northern Irish player carried Castletown Golf Club sponsorship logos for two of his professional seasons, during which he won one of his two World Golf Championship titles. Graham Lacey was the man who put the sponsorship deal together.
Clarke played the Castletown course several times during his sponsorship period, and attended a number of social functions at the club, making a number of friends with his generous personality and typical Northern Irish character.
His super-cool performance in today’s final round of The Open saw the 42 year old from Dungannon achieve a lifetime’s ambition to win one of golf’s ‘majors’, seeing off the challenge of Americans Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickleson.
"It’s just incredible," said Clarke. "I don’t know what to say . . Mainly, I was trying not to make any stupid mistakes, trying to play really careful.
"The more you put yourself into winning positions the more comfortable you get with it . . . I made some nice putts and made some good shots.”
Showing his emotions, he added, "It’s for the kids, I hope they will be very proud . . . the celebrations will be long and I’ll be very, very hungover."
BBC television commentator Peter Alliss said, "It’s a great moment for British golf and Northern Irish golf in particular,” as the millions of TV viewers and the thousands around the 18th green gave him possibly one of the most warmly received wins in the history of the Open championship.
"Darren Clarke is the winner and very deservedly so . . . it’s been an extraordinary year for Irish golf. These are great moments."
With big smiles throughout the day - the hallmark of the straight-talking Clarke - he won The Open on five under par, a victory by three shots over Johnson and Mickleson who both dropped shots on the important final few holes in tricky conditions on the Kent coast.
The weather at Royal St George’s was something that Clarke understood very well. In Northern Ireland - and the Isle of Man - the Irishman was used to playing in unpredictable conditions. With heavy showers one minute and warm sunshine the next, it was a day made for Darren Clarke.
The reception he received around the course, not just today, but ever since he took the lead after two rounds, showed the affection with which he is held by the British public.
He has been a regular member of the Britain and Europe Ryder Cup team for many years and, despite being a wild card choice for the team, was attributed as the most inspirational player when the Ryder Cup was retained at The K Club, Kildare in Ireland in 2006.
He went through personal turmoil between 2005 and 2006 when he missed several tournaments to care for his wife, who suffered with breast cancer. Heather Clarke died on August 13, 2006 at 39 years of age - the day before her husband's 38th birthday.
Clarke, who learned his golf as a teenager playing around the fabulous Royal Portrush course on the north west coast of Northern Ireland, was runner-up to Zara Phillips in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 2006.
Darren Clarke started The Open at odds of 150 to 1, but he took control of the tournament after two rounds, and in his final round it was clear from the early holes that he had the experience and nerve to keep hold of the lead he held at the start of the final 18 holes.
His prize money for winning The Open was a cool £920,000, without counting his personal sponsorship deals, and no doubt he will reap further well deserved financial rewards in the months to come.
