A year ago Darren Clarke travelled to Kent content that some form had returned in Mallorca two months previously, securing his first European Tour title since August 2008. His three-shot victory over Chris Wood and David Lynn in the Iberdrola Open ended a barren spell, which the Dungannon had calmly dealt with as Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy made major history. Especially as for years it was the colourful Clarke who was supposedly pre-destined for golf’s greatest prizes.
It must have been a tough and lonely time, compounded by his own personal challenges following the passing of his wife Heather in 2006 – all of which he was handled with discretion and dignity.
The scenes on the final green at Royal St. George in Sandwich last July proved that in sport there is some natural justice, and fairy tale endings, as at 42 years of age Clarke joined that fats growing list of Irish major winners. In doing so joined the hallowed company of Fred Daly – about whom he would have heard many a tale growing up in Northern Ireland – who won the first major at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake in 1947. It was a fitting ending for Clarke who arrived surrounded by a lack of form at The Open Championship, still forging a relationship with his caddie, and facing some financial uncertainties, according to post event reports by his manager Andrew Chandler – all of which must not have been easy.
The one thing that week was, Darren was playing a links course and anything could happen, particularly at Royal St George. Just ask Tiger Woods. Or Thomas Bjorn. Or indeed the winner in 2003, Ben Curtis.
However Darren is well versed in the fine margins that are play in The Open Championship having led the event on the final day at Royal Troon in 1997, when in his pairing with Jasper Parnevik he shanked his 3 iron shot on the second hole and ended the momentum garnered on the first days – when he signed for a 67 and 66. Although the winner signed for a 65 that day, Clarke must think what might have been that bonnie day in Scotland, had things been different, which may have never given Justin Leonard his chance. Hence all the joy and emotion was understandable a year ago.
In many ways though Clarke’s 2011 win should not have been a surprise as his record at the Open Championship is very good.
At Royal Lytham in 1996 he finished (11th on his and was third when it returned in 2001, which bodes well for this year’s event. Clarke’s St Andrew's record shows a 7th and 15th with second place behind Leonard in 1997 at Troon followed by an 11th place at the same venue in 2004 – signing for a round of 68 on the final day. Although his two Open outings before Sandwich would have hardly given the bookies any worries as in 2010 at St. Andrew’s was more than non descript, finishing 44th , and 2009 at Turnberry a 52nd place. But those two years also coincided with a slump in form as he went about basing himself in Portrush - returning to Northern Ireland after years living in England.
As The Open Championship looms next on the Major calendar Clarke will come to realise that the media pressure that comes with winning the Claret Jug pales into insignificance when compared to the scrutiny when having to defend the title. Which makes Padraig Harrington’s achievements at Royal Birkdale in 2008 really Tigeresque, as those who have been able to achieve that are virtually all from the Hall of fame – Tiger Woods, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Peter Thomson, Bobby Locke, Walter Hagan, Bobby Jones. Previous to Harrington’ s back- to-back win it was 1983 when Watson notched his name, with Australian Peter Thompson the only one to better that with three consecutive titles – 1954, 1955 and 1956.
The assessments of the Open Champions' form over the past few weeks have increased and the relief of making the cut at Royal Portrush last weekend at the Irish Open offered palpable relief.
Unlike more recent seasons where wins just proved elusive, Clarke’s problem this year has become a battle with the dreaded cut as in eight outings Darren has only made two of them. At Royal Portrush, his home course, it required a 69 on day two to ensure safe passage into the weekend in an event he had spent most of the year promoting, planning and supporting. In the end rounds of 73 and 71 secured only a share of 39th place, which was a disappointing given the hours, days and years dreaming of lifting a winning trophy on the 18th green of the Dunluce course. However it has also been a few months plagued with a groin strain that has hampered his season since it first became an issues at the Masters in April.
Missing the cut at Le Golf National on Friday in the Alstom Open de France, after a quadruple bogey at the third last, put him one shot on the wrong side of the cut. Attracting much of the unsolicited pre-Open scrutiny.
In the last visit to Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2001 Clarke ended day one in 21st place after an opening round of 70, and four shots off the pace set by Colin Montgomerie of 65. By the end of Friday the 2010 Ryder Cup captain gave up five shots to narrow the lead to one, with Darren Clarke coming home in 69 strokes for a six way share of 9th place. In exalted company too as he was joined by Tiger Woods, Des Smyth, Brad Faxon, Rory Sabattini, Billy Andrade, Mark O’Meara and Ralph Jacquelin. On the Saturday Clarke repeated his sixty nine to secure fifth place ahead of the final day and just none shot off the lead - held by David Duval, Ian Woosnam, Billy Mayfair and Alex Cejka.
Going into Sunday paired with Parnevik once again for the final day of The Open, Clarke carded a round of 70, enough to take third place as the challenges all in sundry collapsed on the day With Duval one of the few to hold form and sign for a championship winning 67.
No different to his final Sunday at Royal St George’s at last year’s Open Championship o where a final round 70 was enough to secure the Claret Jug with other about him seeing their challenge wily tint he Kent coast weather. With the young US pretender Dustin Johnson unable to muster an assault on the back nine, and Masters champion seeing his 68 fall three shots short of a play-off. Not unlike the way the course took it’s toll in 2003, the script for Curtis was written that day, as it was for Bjorn. Bo doubt as it was for Darren Clarke, who was winning more than his fair share of those much needed lucky bounces on the Open courses. Or indeed for Harrington in both 2007 and 2008 when his fellow challengers fell by the wayside as the pressure retched up.
At Royal Lytham & St. Annes Clarke returns as champion to a links that holds favoured Open Championship memories no doubt, and do so knowing he is one of those few golfers that have won a major. Not worrying about a bad day at Le Golf National. The only fear maybe the cut.
But Portrush proved that it’s not really a problem when needed.
There is still also a feeling that there us another fairytale finish left in this story.
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