GOLFER OF THE YEAR

All good things come to those who wait ... and Darren Clarke has waited longer than most, writes Chris Kelby.

Clarke’s stunning three shot Open victory at Royal St George’s came at his 20th attempt, a new record for the number of appearances before a win in the event.

The 42-year-old, pictured right, playing in his 54th major, is of a generation of players that were on the verge of being labelled ‘the past’, given the exploits of the sport’s young guns. He was becoming the forgotten man of Northern Irish golf after the US Open successes of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, until a magical week in Kent that has changed all that.

The 140th Open was supposed to be remembered as the one where McIlroy cemented his growing reputation, or one of the world’s top two, Luke Donald or Lee Westwood, proved themselves worthy of their ranking and finally break England’s Major drought.

Instead it became a story of old stagers, such as Thomas Bjorn bouncing back to extinguish bad memories of eight years previously, and Tom Watson continuing his remarkable affinity with the tournament; of Americans proving they are still a mighty force in world golf, of new young stars like 20-year-old English amateur Tom Lewis who held the first round lead.

But mostly it was about redemption, the culmination of one man’s lifelong dream in the face of adversity and the power of positive thinking. For a man who dreamed, as many of us have, of winning The Open since they were a child, and has had to weather his share of life’s storms, but kept his eye on the prize and not lost his belief.

Bad times in golf are more frequent than good times, and there are times when we all have been completely and utterly fed up with the game. But the only way to get through it is to get out there and practice, keep believing that it will turn around, and that is what Darren Clarke has had to do more than most.

Clarke was among the world’s elite in the late 1990s and early 2000s. But some lean years followed before he was hit with the news that would tear his world apart and redefine his life. His wife Heather was diagnosed with breast cancer and passed away in 2006, leaving Clarke to bring up his two young boys Tyrone and Conor alone.

Just a month after her death, Clarke accepted a wildcard to play on his fifth European Ryder Cup team at the K Club in Dublin. What followed was one of the most emotional weeks in sport as Clarke, swept on a wave of sympathy, helped his side to victory.

The man from Dungannon had always been popular, with the public and fellow pros alike. A man the fans could identify with, not a gym-obsessed robot; a man who liked a drink and a smoke and carried a bit of weight.
 
Behind the scenes Clarke, who set up with fledgling agent Chubby Chandler in 1990 on nothing more than a handshake, continued to develop his own foundation and mentor younger players in the ISM stable. Now, 21 years later the ‘Chubby Slam’ of all four Major’s in a year remains a possibility after the successes this year from ISM players Charl Schwarzel, Rory McIlroy and now Clarke.

After working hard with his swing coach Pete Cowen and long-time performance guru Dr Bob Rotella he forced his way back into the winners’ circle two months ago with a win in Majorca.

He made serene progress around a Royal St George’s course that had spat out some of the world’s best. The rest rose and fell throughout Sunday’s final round but Clarke was unwavering.
 
Smiling and acknowledging the crowd at every opportunity he seemed to be savouring an unexpected return to the spotlight. 

Happiness has returned to his life off the course with new fiancée Alison and the boys settled in Northern Ireland. With his amazing achievements of the past week happiness has certainly returned to life on the golf course.