Darren Clarke attempts to make a comeback at this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
Perhaps it was too much for the aging Darren Clarke to pull in one of the most coveted titles in golf, the Open Championship at St George’s, as he is now finding hard to come out of the endless celebrations that followed, which has delivered a severe blow
to his form. Clarke, who won the title in his 20th attempt, was so much overwhelmed that he spent several weeks drowning himself in legendary Irish whiskey and many of his compatriots raised serious concerns about his apathetic attitude towards
the rest of the season.
His apathy, subsequently, had dire repercussions as the Irishman missed the cut twice afterwards, finishing 68th at the Bridgestone Invitational and a disappointing 35th at the Omega European Maters. Despite the setbacks, the 43-year-old
Clarke is barely deterred by recent events and vows to stage a comeback in near future. Clarke is also keen of leading the European team in the Ryder Cup at some stage in the future.
Clarke said, “I've done what I always wanted to do, got to the top of the mountain -- what else can compare to it? What else is there to do? In terms of my golfing career, I've won World Golf Championships, I've won the Open, I've won tournaments all around
the world -- I've had a pretty decent career. At some stage in the future, I might be asked to be Ryder Cup captain. What more could I do?”
Clarke is part of the field at this week’s Pro-Am Championship, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which is being played simultaneously on three adjacent courses, the St. Andrews, The Carnoustie and the Kingsbarns. The championship also holds many precious
points which can guide competitors to next year’s Ryder Cup at Medinah, near Chicago. Clarke added, “It's a huge tournament for us on the European Tour.”
Clarke also blasted the tour’s decision to hold the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, but also insisted that he will be part of the field in case he qualifies for the same. The Gleneagles will also be the venue for the qualifying rounds for the 2012 Ryder Cup.
Clarke has now gained the status of one of the most celebrated European golfers with 22 professional wins on his belt. Born in Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, Clarke turned professional in 1990 and went over to win three PGA Tour titles and no
fewer than 14 European Tour titles.
Clarke was suffering from a disappointing season for a long time and was on the verge of throwing away golf as a profession. He was advised by his manager, the infamous Chubby Chandler of the International Sports Management (ISM), to take a break from mainstream
sport. Clarke came back to stage the greatest victory of his career by winning the Open Championship.
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