It may only be a matter of time before the golfing authorities make their way to Northern Ireland to test the waters in the province, with the localities of Portrush and Holywood the areas likely to be under the greatest scrutiny, should Darren Clarke complete the job on Sunday at Royal St George in Sandwich.
Not since the Ryder Cup at the K Club in Straffan in 2006 in the weeks after the death of his wife Heather has the Dungannon man looked so in control on the golf course and in control of his talent. With a recent win at the Iberdrola in Mallorca etched into his short term memory, Clarke seems to have gained inspiration from the achievements of Rory McIlroy last month at Congressional and the win by Rathmore's own prodigy, Graeme McDowell, in 2010 at pebble Beach.
With Harrington in the major mix on three occasions Darren remains the only one along with Paul McGinley, not to have crossed the golfing Rubicon out of the current crop, but in the wind and rain of England's south coast on Saturday he started to look very much the part. Based on the swing and the putting the chance of a forth major win for Northern Ireland looms large - albeit as McIlroy's challenge started to falter. Despite so much at stake Clarke appeared very relaxed all though Saturday engaging in constant banter with his partner, Lucas Glover.
For that much credit must got to Andrew "Chubby" Chandler of ISM Golf who 22 years after he started his golf management business now has players in his stable that currently hold the Open title, in Louis Oosthuizen, the Masters Champion in Charl Schwartzel and the 2011 US Open winner, Rory McIlroy.
Should Darren win on Sunday then the "Chubby Slam" will be complete with only the PGA Championship in Atlanta next month remaining outside his control.
For Northern Ireland the level of surprise of another sporyt8ng milestone is naturally less than elsewhere in the world, as after all it is the same region that produced sporting legends that include Georg Best, snooker champions Alex Higgins and Dennis Taylor, amongst many others. The fact that golf is now having it's day in the sun, and that a third major could be residing in the shadows of Portrush as of Monday is accepted as par for the course - to some degree.
It is indeed ironic that it has been Clarke's move back to Northern Ireland for the sake of his children that may have been the unexpected inspiration for Darren and his decision to live within a short drive of Portrush Golf Club playing once again in the elements that once made him the great prospects twenty seasons ago.
Having come second in 1997 and third in 2001 at The Open, Clarke knows that this time it is different as he will tee of on Sunday in the last pairing along side American, Dustin Johnson, who will be carrying all the US hopes in the absence of Tiger Woods.
Both players though will hopefully leave the clubhouse at Royal St George freed from the past, albeit Johnson has seen two majors slip from his grasp over the past fourteen months. The worst case being at Whistling Straits when grounding his club cost him a two shot penalty at the PGA Championship - and a shot at the play off.
With both players benefiting from the improved weather later in the day, their under par rounds reflected the better conditions with Clarke carding a round of 69 and Johnson carding one better signing for a 68. Also lurking is Rickie Fowler who signed for a two under par 68 to hold third place with Thomas Bjorn.
Miguel Angel Jimenez finished the day two over par and is still in contention given that a four shot swing on Sunday, in what are forecast to be tough conditions once again, is not that much on the lats day of The Open Championship.
Like McIlroy, the older El Nino, Sergio Garcia, signed for a round of 74 and in 26th place is eight strokes adrift and unlikely to strike fear into those pairings playing behind his group. But the Spaniard saw a few putts slide past on Saturday and with it perhaps his chances of winning The Open and repeating the feat of Seve Ballesteros in 1979, 1984 and 1988. That role may be left to Jimenez who finished the day one under.
With more of the same forecast for tomorrow afternoon, Darren Clarke will rest easier tonight confident that he has the golfing weaponry to battle the wind and rain in his Sunday showdown, to hold off the on comers. With his closest rival in his pairing, the day might just develop into match play, at which Clarke is no mean player.
For Chubby it will be the fourth Major out of the last five that he will be on the practice range with the leading pairing. Although it as not been wire to wire like McIlroy at the US Open in Bethesda, it won't really matter.
Neither will if for Darren who seems completely relaxed with the potential reality that lies before him on Sunday.
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