Darren Clarke
Name:
Darren Christopher ClarkeAlso known as:
ClarkeyCountry:
N. IrelandBorn:
Aug 14, 1968 in Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, N. Ireland.Original/Home Club:
Dungannon GC, N. IrelandOccupation:
Professional golferTurned Pro:
1990Website:
https://www.darrenclarke.comMAJORS (1): The Open (2011). Ryder Cup player (1997, '99, 2002, '04, '06). Ryder Cup captain (2016). Multiple wins on the European, US PGA, Japan and Asian Tours. Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, OBE (2012).
Darren Clarke is one of the world's leading Tour players who plays predominantly on the European Tour, but also in the USA, Asia and on other international tours. He attended college at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, before turning professional in 1990.
Clarke's illustrious playing career saw him become a legendary Ryder Cup player, culminating in his 2006 appearance, six weeks after the death of his wife Heather. Contributing three points from his three matches, he was warmly embraced by players on both sides as Europe went about recording a famous 18.5 to 9.5 points victory at Ireland's K Club.
Clarke was made an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 2012. He currently lives in Portrush in Northern Ireland.
America
Mitsubishi
Played as the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai (Jan 21-23; PGA Tour Champions season-opener). Second-placed Retief Goosen (RSA) finished 2 shots behind Darren Clarke (N.Ire), who recorded his second PGA Tour Champions win. [Hualālai course, Hualālai Resort, Big Island, Hawaii].
America
TimberTech
Played as the TimberTech Championship (Oct 30-Nov 1). Second-placed Jim Furyk (USA) and defending champion Bernhard Langer (Ger) finished 1 shot behind 52-year-old Darren Clarke (N.Ire). Clarke recorded his first PGA Tour Champions win in his 40th start on the Tour. [Old Course, Broken Sound Club, Boca Raton, FL].
Majors
R&A
The Open Championship (140th) (July 14-17). Second-placed Phil Mickelson (USA) and Dustin Johnson (USA) finished 3 shots behind Clarke (N.Ire). This was the first win in a major championship for the popular 42-year-old Irishman. [Royal St George's GC, Sandwich, Kent].
Europe
Iberdrola
Played as the Iberdrola Open (May 12-15). Second-placed Chris Wood (Eng) and David Lynn (Eng) finished 3 shots behind Clarke (N. Ire), who claimed his 13th win on the European Tour. [Pula GC, Son Servera, Mallorca, Spain].
Asia
BMW
Played as the BMW Asian Open (April 24-27; Asian/Eurpn Trs event). Second-placed Robert-Jan Derksen (Neth) finished 1 shot behind Clarke (N.Ire), who enjoyed his first European Tour win in almost 5 years. [Tomson GC, Pudong, Shanghai, China].
Europe
KLM
Played as the KLM Open (Aug 21-14). Second-placed Paul McGinley (Ire) finished 4 shots behind fellow Irishman Clarke (N.Ire). [Kennemer G&CC, Zandvoort, Netherlands].
Japan
Mitsui Sumitomo
Played as the Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters (Nov 10-13; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Mitsuhiro Tateyama (Jpn) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Clarke (N.Ire), who recorded the last of his three Japan Tour wins. [Gotemba course, Taiheiyo Club, Gotemba, Shizuoka, Jpn].
Japan
Mitsui Sumitomo
Played as the Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters (Nov 11-14; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Lee Westwood (Eng) and Nozomi Kawahara (Jpn) finished 6 shots behind wire-to-wire winner Clarke (N.Ire), who recorded his second Japan Tour win. [Gotemba course, Taiheiyo Club, Gotemba, Shizuoka, Jpn].
WGC
NEC
Played as the WGC-NEC Invitational (Aug 21-24). Second-placed Jonathan Kaye (USA) finished 4 shots behind Clarke (N. Ire). [South course, Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio].
Europe
Compass
Played as the Compass Group English Open (June 6-9). Second-placed Søren Hansen (Den) finished 3 shots behind Darren Clarke (N.Ire), who won this title for the third time in four years. [Arden course, Forest of Arden CC, Meriden, nr Birmingham].
Europe
Smurfit
Played as the Smurfit European Open (July 5-8). Second-placed Thomas Bjørn (Den), Ian Woosnam (Wales) and Pádraig Harrington (Ire) finished 3 shots behind Clarke (N.Ire). [Ryder Cup course course, K Club, Straffan, nr Dublin; at the time known as the Palmer course].
Japan
x
Played as The Crowns - International Invitation Golf (April 26-29; Japan Tr event; aka the Chunichi Crowns). Second-placed Keiichiro Fukabori (Jpn) and Shinichi Yokota (Jpn) finished 4 shots behind first-time Japan Tour winner Clarke (N.Ire). [Wago course, Nagoya GC, Aichi, Japan].
Africa
Dimension Data
Played as the Dimension Data Pro-Am (Feb 1-4; Sunshine Tr 2000/01 season). Second-placed Tjaart van der Walt (RSA) and Retief Goosen (RSA) finished 2 shots behind Clarke (N.Ire). [Gary Player CC, Sun City Resort, North West Prov, RSA].
Europe
Compass
Played as the Compass Group English Open (June 1-4). Second-placed Michael Campbell (NZ) and Mark James (Eng) finished 1 shot behind defending champion Darren Clarke (N.Ire). [Arden course, Forest of Arden CC, Meriden, nr Birmingham].
WGC
Andersen Consulting
Played as the WGC-Andersen Consulting Match Play Championship (Feb 23-27). Clarke (N.Ire) beat Tiger Woods (USA) 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final. [Champions course, La Costa Resort, Carlsbad, Calif.]
Europe
Compass
Played as the Compass Group English Open (June 3-6). Second-placed John Bickerton (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Darren Clarke (N.Ire), who recorded his fifth European Tour win. [Hanbury Manor CC, Ware, Herts].
Europe
Volvo
Played as the Volvo Masters (Oct 29-Nov 1; Eurpn Tr season-ending event). Second-placed Andrew Coltart (Scot) finished 2 shots behind Clarke (N.Ire). [Montecastillo Resort, Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz, Spain].
Awards
Eurpn Tr
Clarke (N.Ire) recorded the season's lowest stroke average on the European Tour. Colin Montgomerie (Scot) was second with 69.66; Lee Westwood (Eng) was third with 69.85.
Europe
Benson & Hedges
Played as the Benson & Hedges International Open (May 14-17). Second-placed Santiago Luna (Esp) finished 3 shots behind Clarke (N.Ire). [The Oxfordshire, Milton Common, nr Oxford].
Europe
Linde
Played as the Linde German Masters (Oct 3-6). Second-placed Mark Davis (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Clarke (N.Ire), who recorded his second European Tour win. [Berliner G&CC Motzener See, Motzen, nr Berlin].
Europe
Alfred Dunhill
Played as the Alfred Dunhill Open (Oct 7-10). Second-placed Vijay Singh (Fiji) and Nick Faldo (Eng) finished 2 shots behind first-time European Tour winner Clarke (N.Ire). [Royal Zoute GC, Knokke-Heist, West Flanders, Belgium].
Tournaments:
2021 Opens: whether by accident or design, four of the top five mens’ Open Championships played in the British Isles occupy consecutive weeks in July: the Irish Open (1-4), Scottish Open (8-11), The Open (15-18) and Wales Open (22-25). The recently relaunched English Open is scheduled for early-August.
Hoag Classic: Ernie Els defends his title in this prestigious PGA Tour Champions event, played since 1991 at the Newport Beach Country Club, CA (Mar 5-7).
Who's Who:
Brooks Koepka: won his second Phoenix Open title, with a chip-in eagle at TPC Scottsdale’s short par-4 17th included in his final round.
Annika Sörenstam: the legendary Swede makes a return to the LPGA Tour in the Gainbridge LPGA, to be played at Lake Nona, her home club (Feb 25-28).
Nicklaus Design to create new course for Qiddiya development in Saudi Arabia
Layout is first of two planned for country club within residential community.
Chart Hills Golf Club: On Christmas Eve 2019, the course became part of the Ramac Group also the proprietors of the famous Prince’s Golf Club, in Sandwich on the Kent coast. Read more ...
Oú sont les femmes? Why there are so few women in golf course architecture.
Dundonald Links Scotland: Construction work is in progress on new practice facilities and course changes at Dundonald Links in Irvine, Scotland, as part of a £25 million investment by new owners Darwin Escapes that also includes the construction of a new clubhouse with rooms, plus eighteen lodges. Read more ...
R&A submits planning application for new golf facility in Glasgow.
Look up the Top Golf Courses in Scotland.
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