Who's who: Darren Clarke

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Who's who: Darren Clarke

  • Name:

    Darren Christopher Clarke
  • Also known as:

    Clarkey
  • Country:

    N. Ireland
  • Born:

    Aug 14, 1968 in Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, N. Ireland.
  • Original/Home Club:

    Dungannon GC, N. Ireland
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    1990
  • Website:

    https://www.darrenclarke.com

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (1): The Open (2011). SENIOR MAJORS (1): The Senior Open (2022). Ryder Cup player (1997, '99, 2002, '04, '06). Ryder Cup captain (2016). Multiple wins on the European Tour (14), PGA Tour (3), World Golf Championships (2), Japan Tour (3), Asian Tour (1) and Sunshine Tour (1), and on the European and PGA Senior Tours. Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, OBE (2012).

Did you know?

Together with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Fred Daly and Ronan Rafferty, Darren Clarke stands out as one of the greatest professional golfers from Northern Ireland. Unlike the others, Clarke honed his golfing skills stateside, attending college at Wake Forest University in North Carolina in 1987. He turned professional in 1990 and played his first full European Tour season in 1991.

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.

In winning the Open Championship (2011) and the Senior Open Championship (2022), Clarke became only the fourth player after Bob Charles (NZ), Gary Player (RSA) and Tom Watson (USA) to have his name on both of these iconic trophies.

Clarke was made an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 2012. He currently lives in Portrush in Northern Ireland.

Top tournaments won by Darren Clarke

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Score

270 (-10)

Prize money

$432,080

Title sponsor

R&A

The Senior Open presented by Rolex (35th) (July 21-24). Second-placed Pádraig Harrington (Ire) finished 1 shot behind Darren Clarke (N.Ire), who recorded his first senior major championship win. Clarke became only the fourth player after Bob Charles (NZ), Gary Player (RSA) and Tom Watson (USA) to win both The Open championship (2011) and the Senior Open championship (2022). [King's course, Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Perthshire].

2021
America
Minnehaha CC
198 (-12)
$270,000
Sanford Health

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Venue

Minnehaha CC

Score

198 (-12)

Prize money

$270,000

Title sponsor

Sanford Health

Played as the Sanford International presented by Cambria (Sept 17-19). Darren Clarke (N.Ire) beat Kyoung-Ju "KJ" Choi (S Kor) with a birdie at the second playoff hole (par-4 18th). Steve Flesch (USA) was eliminated at the first playoff hole. [Minnehaha CC, Sioux Falls, South Dakota].

2021
America
195 (-21)
$310,000
Mitsubishi

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Score

195 (-21)

Prize money

$310,000

Title sponsor

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].

2020
America
Broken Sound
199 (-17)
$300,000
TimberTech

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Venue

Broken Sound

Score

199 (-17)

Prize money

$300,000

Title sponsor

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].

2011
Europe
274 (-6)
€166,660
Iberdrola

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Venue

Pula

Score

274 (-6)

Prize money

€166,660

Title sponsor

Iberdrola

Played as the Iberdrola Open (May 12-15; next played as the Mallorca Golf Open in 2021). Second-placed Chris Wood (Eng) and David Lynn (Eng) finished 3 shots behind Darren Clarke (N.Ire), who claimed his 13th win on the European Tour. [Pula GC, Son Servera, Mallorca, Spain].

2011
Majors
275 (-5)
£900,000
R&A

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Score

275 (-5)

Prize money

£900,000

Title sponsor

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].

2008
Europe
264 (-16)
€300,000
KLM

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Score

264 (-16)

Prize money

€300,000

Title sponsor

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].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Score

280 (-8)

Prize money

US$383,330

Title sponsor

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].

2005
Japan
270 (-18)
¥30million
Mitsui Sumitomo

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Score

270 (-18)

Prize money

¥30million

Title sponsor

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].

2004
Japan
266 (-22)
¥30million
Mitsui Sumitomo

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Score

266 (-22)

Prize money

¥30million

Title sponsor

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].

2003
WGC
268 (-12)
$1,050,000
NEC

Category

WGC

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Score

268 (-12)

Prize money

$1,050,000

Title sponsor

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].

2002
Europe
271 (-17)
€208,798
Compass

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Score

271 (-17)

Prize money

€208,798

Title sponsor

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].

2001
Japan
267 (-13)
¥22million
x

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Score

267 (-13)

Prize money

¥22million

Title sponsor

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].

2001
Europe
273 (-15)
€553,728
Smurfit

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

€553,728

Title sponsor

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 Darren Clarke (N.Ire). [Palmer North course, K Club, Straffan, nr Dublin].

2001
Africa
274 (-14)
R317,000
Dimension Data

Category

Africa

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Score

274 (-14)

Prize money

R317,000

Title sponsor

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].

2000
WGC
4 & 3
$1,000,000
Andersen Consulting

Category

WGC

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Score

4 & 3

Prize money

$1,000,000

Title sponsor

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.]

2000
Europe
275 (-13)
€208,330
Compass

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

€208,330

Title sponsor

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].

1999
Europe
268 (-20)
€166,660
Compass

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Score

268 (-20)

Prize money

€166,660

Title sponsor

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].

1998
Awards
69.45
n/a
Eurpn Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Venue

Score

69.45

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

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.

1998
Europe
271 (-17)
£166,000
Volvo

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Score

271 (-17)

Prize money

£166,000

Title sponsor

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].

1998
Europe
273 (-15)
£125,000
Benson & Hedges

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

£125,000

Title sponsor

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].

1996
Europe
264 (-24)
£108,330
Linde

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Score

264 (-24)

Prize money

£108,330

Title sponsor

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].

1993
Europe
270 (-14)
£100,000
Alfred Dunhill

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Clarke, Darren

Score

270 (-14)

Prize money

£100,000

Title sponsor

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].

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