The 3 Major Musketeers

Who was to know?

Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland pose together during the second day of previews to the 109th U.S. Open on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on June 16, 2009 in Farmingdale, New York.

Darren Clarke Enjoys Open Dream

Newly-crowned British Open champion Darren Clarke has described winning the tournament as a dream-come-true, and also admitted his path to success had been a difficult one.

Clarke, 42, carded a final round of 70 to finish five-under par, three shots clear of American Dustin Johnson, to claim the first major of his 21-year career.

The elation felt by the Northern Irishman in the wake of his triumph at Royal St. George's was in stark contrast to five years ago, when his wife Heather died after a battle with breast cancer.

"You almost wouldn't wish it on anybody," Clarke told CNN when asked to describe the sequence of events which led to his victory in golf's oldest major.

"It's weird. It's a game of give and take, it takes it away and it gives you it back. I've had a tough period of late, obviously, since Heather passed away. My boys were priority and they've now developed into two really good kids.

"Of that I am very proud, even more proud of that than I am being Open champion."

Clarke's success at the 140th staging of the historic tournament means he can look forward to participating in the event for years to come.

And the 14-time winner on the European Tour could even have one of his sons on his bag in years to come, with Tyrone, 12, and Conor, 10, both following their father into the sport.

"They both love playing their golf," Clarke said of his boys. "Both playing at Royal Portrush [a golf course in Northern Ireland] everyday and it is fantastic.

"For them to be able to say their Dad is Open champion is wonderful. If they do come back and caddy for me I probably won't pay them that much! But that would be a treat to be able to do that."

Clarke became the third Northern Irishman to secure one of golf's four majors in the last 13 months on Sunday, after his compatriots Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell won the U.S. Open in 2011 and 2010 respectively.

But despite his country's recent triumphs, Clarke believes the current upturn in form began with the Republic of Ireland's Padraig Harrington winning the British Open 2007 and then going on to retain his title and win the PGA Championship in 2008.

"It wasn't just GMac [McDowell] and Rory, it was Padraig. What he achieved, his major wins and the manner in which he achieved them, he kicked the ball rolling.

"There's no real reason for it, we're just producing talented players at the moment."

The new world number 30 also revealed he received congratulations from joint runner-up Phil Mickelson and also from 14-time major winner Tiger Woods -- who missed the championship with a knee injury.

"I had a couple of wonderful texts from Tiger last night. Phil came over and put his arm around me. He said: 'Enjoy every moment of it. You're a major champion, and they can never take that away from you.'

"It's respect from your peers, from the guys you're playing with week in, week out and trying to beat week in, week out. Things like that are really important."

The Major Champions are Coming.....

Irish golf fans will be able to give their two reigning Major Champions a rousing homecoming to remember when Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy tee it up in the Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club next week.

Clarke’s emotional victory in The Open Championship at Royal St George’s on Sunday meant historic back-to-back Major triumphs for Northern Ireland, following McIlroy’s record breaking eight shot victory in the US Open Championship last month.

Now Ireland’s golfing public will be able to demonstrate their typically vocal support and appreciation for both Major Champions in their national Open, ensuring a wonderful festival atmosphere in Co. Kerry on Bank Holiday weekend in Ireland (July 28-31).

Clarke and McIlroy will also be joined by Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell, Ireland’s two other recent Major Champions, for what is set to be a celebration of the country’s remarkable achievements on the world stage over the last four years, which was sparked by Harrington’s 2007 Open Championship win.

“The Irish Open promises to be extra special this year with Rory and I bringing back the US Open Trophy and the Claret Jug,” said Clarke.

“We always enjoy an amazing reception from the fans in Ireland but I’ve got a feeling next week could be like nothing we’ve seen before. We are both really looking forward to coming home and celebrating Irish golf’s achievements and we will both be hoping to win the Irish Open to give the fans yet another reason to celebrate.”

McIlroy added: “Darren’s magnificent victory at Royal St George’s means the Irish Open will be even more of a celebration next week.

“The reception I received last month when I brought the US Open Trophy home was unbelievable and I’m sure it will be even better in Killarney when Darren also has the Claret Jug with him. It’s an amazing time for Irish golf at the moment and I’m sure the fans will help make the Irish Open a truly special event.”

More than 82,000 people flocked to Killarney Golf and Fishing Club last year when England’s Ross Fisher held off a final day Harrington charge to capture the title.

Tickets to The Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland are available NOW on www.europeantour.com/tickets, but time is running out for one lucky fan to have the chance of a lifetime by winning a place alongside McIlroy in the Pro-Am on Wednesday, 27 July.

Anyone purchasing a ticket, aged 16 years old or over on July 27, 2011 – and in possession of an official handicap - can enter the prize draw to play alongside McIlroy. 

The competition closes for entries at midnight on Wednesday 20th July, 2011. European Tour Terms and Conditions apply.

Darren Victory a Dream for Irish Open

If Failte Ireland were concerned about the lack of a sponsor for the Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland at the end of July, they need not have worried as the golfing gods were looking out for their best interests over the past weeks it seems. Not unlike last year when the Killeen Course at the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club hosted the return of the US Open winner at Pebble Beach, Graeme McDowell, an achievement that had not been matched in forty years, since Tony Jacklin in 1970. 

This year the same golf club will be welcoming two current major title holders, both of whom are Irish. 

Only four years ago it was Padraig Harrington making the breakthrough for Irish golf in the modern era when he saw off Sergio Garcia in the play-off at Carnoustie in 2006, placing golf on the island at the forefront once again after a gap of sixty years from Fred Daly’s achievement in 1947. Within twelve months Harrington had repeated the feat at Royal Birkdale, add a third major by winning the PGA Championship at Hazeltine National in Minnesota a few months later. 

Incredible to think now, only 48 months later it is fellow Ryder Cup player Darren Clarke who takes possession of the Claret Jug for the next year. 

Only last month Rorymania took over the golfing world when the Holywood prodigy stormed a wire to wire finish at Congressional to match McDowell’s feat within the year, meaning that the trophy travelled only a short distance from Portrush into the hands of Northern Ireland’s newest superstar. With all the pre Open Championship betting focused on Rory McIlroy, the elder statesman and mentor of many younger Northern Ireland golfers, Darren Clarke, arrived to Royal St. George Golf Club this week virtually unnoticed. 

But having won the Iberdrola Mallorca Open in May, by three shots, it should have been a warning to even the most wise of golf pundits that the of growing up in the latest golf talent centre, Northern Ireland, and being part of the International Sports Management team stable, gave the Dungannon almost an unfair advantage. 

Having himself dropped out of the Lancome Open de France to celebrate with McIlroy after his US Open win, one wonders what Clarke will have planned for himself this week, now that he was won the Open after 21 attempts – becoming the 21st Century Fred Daly. 

On his EasyJet flight home from Mallorca that Sunday in May, he offered free drinks to all the passengers onboard en route to London with the 166,660Euro prize money, as he celebrated his first win in three years. One wonders what the locals in Deal and Sandwich will be offered if they meet Clarke on Sunday night having collected a cheque for £900,000. 

With the Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland on the horizon, a better marketing plan could not have been planned and in all likelihood the record crowds of 81,500 of last year could easily be matched – or beaten – this year. For the now departed sponsor 3 mobile the view in the rear view mirror may look a bit different as the field in two weeks will include the four Irish major winners, who between them have six major titles, A great marketing story for Irish golf if there was ever to be one written. 

In the same way that Padraig Harrington became the first Irish winner of the national golf event at Adare Manor in 2007 when he beat Bradley Dredge in a play-off to equal the achievement of John O’Leary in 1982 – a gap of 25 years. 

At the 3 Irish Open last year Harrington came close to winning it again, just losing out to England’s Ross Fisher on the Sunday. For Clarke such is the momentum now, he will arrive to Killarney as the latest major winner, only five weeks ahead of the other Irish major title holder, Rory McIlroy. 

Both will be odds on to win the Irish Open this year no doubt. 

For Clarke it may be an ideal way to overcome the misfortunes of 2003 at the weather delayed Nissan Irish Open at Carton House where he lost out to Thomas Bjorn after his final round of 73 on the Monday. Having been in contention on the Saturday, Clarke could only three-putt after duffing his pitch from just off the green. 

However, the Northern Ireland player emerged with enormous credit after an incident on the ninth hole when play resumed on Monday morning after Clarke had pushed his tee shot into heavy rough when play was suspended on the Sunday evening. On returning he found the ball in a much better lie which would have given him the chance to reach the green in two, But Darren insisted on chipping out sideways and ended up with a bogey five. 

He said at the time: "Yesterday I had a very poor lie and I got back out this morning and either a lot of people had been looking for it, or a lot of people had flattened the grass around it, it was a much better lie than when I left it," said Clarke. 

"I could have hit it onto the front of the green but if I had done I would have held my head in shame, so I just decided to chip it out and play it like I would have last night." 

This incident and the role he played in the Ryder Cup victory at the K Club in 2006, very soon after the death of his wife Heather from cancer, typify the esteem and affection he holds within the golfing world. So it was no surprise that his win at Royal St. George was so merited and greeted with massive cheers. Indeed, that popularity was highlighted also in the way to the recorders hut when Mickelson, Bjorn and other players lined up to congratulate him. 

On Twitter Rory McIlroy said he was hanging around to congratulate Clarke as well when he finished and join the ISM team celebrations. 

McIlroy may need to take the week off as it will no doubt be a long party and as will the homecoming to Portrush later in the week. 

But at this stage, golf clubs in Northern Ireland are now expert at these homecomings as it will be third in thirteen months. 

For the Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland such homecomings can only be good for ticket sales.

Photo of the Day - What Do Ya think?

Darren Clarke talks with caddy John Mulrooney during the third round of The 140th Open Championship at Royal St George's on July 16, 2011 in Sandwich, England.(July 15, 2011 - Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images Europe)