Golfweek

SANDWICH, England – The fans’ throaty roar as Darren Clarke lifted the claret jug signaled that they were celebrating more than a man’s good golf. They were cheering for one of their own overcoming all that life can throw at a person.

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Darren Clarke at the Open Championship 2011

Take a look at Darren Clarke's performance in The Open Championship through pictures.

Clarke is hardly some Atlas who can hit the ball farther than the eye can see. His smile and rotund waistline make him relatable, and signify a man willing to indulge in life’s finer things. The life of a professional golfer, especially in this era, is one of a luxury that’s unfathomable to most. Clarke has enjoyed that lifestyle, but hasn’t been immune from life’s darker side.

It’s been five years since he turned from an affable, Guinness-swigging Northern Irishman to sympathetic hero. The transformation took place at the K Club in Ireland, where he led Europe to Ryder Cup victory just weeks after the death of his wife, Heather.

His loss later extended to the golf course. Though golf loses its importance in the wake of personal tragedy, Clarke’s was not in recent years the man who’d once been among Europe’s leading men.

A new home, a new outlook and a new love all helped him reach the culmination of his career.

He moved back to his native Portrush last summer after about 13 years in London. He got engaged late last year to Alison Campbell, a former Miss Northern Ireland, whom he met on a blind date set up by Graeme McDowell.

Two months ago, Clarke claimed his 13th European Tour title at the Iberdrola Open in Spain, his first victory in three years and only his third since 2003. And now he’s the champion of the tournament that defines golf in his homeland. He saw sports psychologist Bob Rotella earlier this week; he credits that session with helping him hoist the claret jug.

Clarke shot 70 Sunday to finish at 5-under 275, three shots ahead of Phil Mickelson (68) and Dustin Johnson (72). The Americans had their opportunities, but made repeated past mistakes.

“It’s been a dream since I’ve been a kid to win The Open, like any kid’s dream is, and I’m able to do it which just feels incredible, incredible right now,” said Clarke, 42.

He’s the first player in his 40s to win a major since Vijay Singh at the ’04 PGA. Only two other players were older when they won their first major — Roberto De Vicenzo (44) in the 1967 British Open, and Jerry Barber (45) in the 1961 PGA Championship.

Clarke’s victory is the third for Northern Ireland in about 13 months, after Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell won the past two U.S. Opens. The victories by McIlroy and McDowell were breakthroughs for players whose careers were on the rise. Clarke’s win signifies a resurgence for a player who was at the last Ryder Cup as an assistant captain, not a player.

“Bad times in golf are more frequent than the good times,” Clarke said. “I’ve always been pretty hard on myself when I fail because I don’t find it very easy to accept that. And there’s times I’ve been completely and utterly fed up with the game. But friends and family and Chubby (Chandler) say, get out there and practice and keep going, keep going an that’s why I’m sitting here now.”

The year’s first three majors have all been won by members of Chandler’s International Sports Management stable. Clarke was Chandler’s first client. Chandler saw a spark in Clarke that Chandler thought may lead to victory.

Photo Gallery

The Open Championship 2011 (Rd. 4)

Check out photos from the final round of The Open Championship at Royal St. George's

“Four weeks ago, he said, ‘I’m going to prepare properly for the Open because I’m not going to have too many more chances to win it,’” Chandler said. “I walked away from that and I thought, ‘He’s thinking about winning the Open. That’s great.’”

Clarke led at Royal St. George’s since the second round, when a pair of 68s had him tied with Lucas Glover. Clarke started the final round one shot ahead of Johnson.

Mickelson made Sunday’s early charge with birdies on three of his first six holes. He was tied for the lead after an eagle on the par-5 seventh, and shot 30 on the front nine. Another birdie at 10 got him one off the lead, but he never recovered after missing a 2-foot par putt on the 11th. He bogeyed three more holes coming in.

“It was a fun day,” Mickelson said. “When I saw Darren wasn’t going to make a mistake, and he played some great golf, ... I had to start trying to make birdies, and that’s when I ended up making a couple bogeys.”

Johnson was in a major’s final group for the third time, and made another memorable miscue. His mistakes at the U.S. Open were emotional. He let his early triple bogey spiral out of control and lead to an 82. There was a mental mistake at the PGA, failing to recognize the trampled-down bunker. This time, the player with athletic gifts that are the envy of the PGA Tour, made a physical miscue.

Johnson was two shots behind Clarke when he reached his tee shot on the 14th hole. Out-of-bounds stakes hug the right side of that hole tighter than a mother reunited with an only child. Johnson’s second shot with a 2-iron cleared the stakes quicker than a David Ortiz homer over Fenway Park’s short right-field wall.

Johnson’s only regret? Not hitting 3-wood instead. He didn’t second-guess the plan. Conventional wisdom is that Johnson’s short memory helps him recover quickly. That trait will be tested once again.

“It was definitely a go situation,” Johnson said. “I hung in there and just fought around, and I think I did very well.”

Johnson’s mistake allowed Clarke to play the final two holes with a four-stroke cushion.

“I was loving every minute of it,” Clarke said. That’s probably an understatement, considering what he’s endured.