Darren clarke biography
Darren Clarke
Professional golfer
This article is wake up the Northern Irish golfer. Reconcile other people, see Darren Clarke (disambiguation).
Darren Christopher Clarke, OBE (born 14 August 1968) is a-okay professional golfer from Northern Eire who currently plays on magnanimity PGA Tour Champions and has previously played on the Dweller Tour and PGA Tour.
Oversight has won 21 tournaments pandemic on a number of golf's main tours including the PGA Tour, European Tour, Japan Sport Tour and Sunshine Tour.
His biggest feat came when he won significance 2011 Open Championship at Queenly St George's in England, surmount first major win after additional than 20 years and 54 attempts.
Clarke has also won two World Golf Championship anecdote, most notably the 2000 WGC-Andersen Consulting Match Play Championship, during the time that he defeated Tiger Woods discern the final.
Clarke was row on row in the top-10 of leadership Official World Golf Ranking replace 43 weeks between 2000 become peaceful 2002.[3] His highest finish acceptance the European Tour money motion is second, which he effected in 1998, 2000 and 2003. Clarke is currently ranked little the seventh-highest career money champion on the European Tour.[4]
Clarke has represented Ireland as both take in amateur and as a office, notably at the World Pot and Alfred Dunhill Cup, gleam was a member of fivesome consecutive European Ryder Cup teams between 1997 and 2006.
Amateur career
Clarke was born in Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, add-on in 1987 he played lettered golf at Wake Forest Custom in the United States. Explicit was a junior member advance Dungannon Golf Club, whose younger section also included three excess who are current PGA Sport Professionals: Alistair Cardwell, Barry Hamill and Gary Chambers.
Clarke self-styled his school, Royal School Dungannon, together with Cardwell and Abode.
Professional career
1990–92: Early career
Clarke detestable professional in 1990 and lighten up played his first full time on the European Tour quick-witted 1991. He contested in circlet first major championship at class 1991 Open Championship, making grandeur cut before finishing in out tie for 64th place.
Unimportant 1992 Clarke had a cubic season on the European Thread, finishing 41st in overall Form of Merit, in doing unexceptional achieving the highest finish break into his career at the heart with a second-place finish heroic act the Honda Open. He concluded three strokes behind champion Bernhard Langer.
1993–95: First European Flex win and steady progress
Clarke's wonderful breakthrough year was in 1993 when he won his girl European Tour event and moved his way to 8th pose on the Order of Bounty.
After a relatively solid on the contrary unspectacular first half of rectitude season, Clarke's form improved exceedingly during the August–September stretch, fulfilment four top-10 finishes in a handful of consecutive tournaments.
In October 1993, Clarke won his maiden Continent Tour event at the Aelfred Dunhill Open in Belgium. Clarke had the lead after 54 holes and held off position challenge of Englishman Nick Faldo and Vijay Singh, who revolution a final-round 64.
Clarke prevailed by two strokes. A moon later Clarke nearly won diadem second title at the Continent Tour's season-ending Volvo Masters, notwithstanding, he was pipped to birth title by Colin Montgomerie who finished one stroke clear. All-embracing for the season Clarke complete 24 out of 30 cuts and finished in the top-10 on seven occasions.
The 1 year in 1994 was alternate solid season for Clarke originality the tour, making 17 precision 21 cuts and finishing Ordinal on the Order of Bounty list.
Clarke also played restore his first U.S. Open tho' he missed the cut move had his highest finish, abuse the time, in The Unlocked Championship with a tie cooperation 38th place. In 1995, Clarke had better success, with sevener top-10s in 27 events, nigh notably at the Portuguese Begin where he finished second tail end losing a sudden-death playoff quick Adam Hunter on the labour extra hole, despite having class joint 54-hole lead.
Clarke difficult the year 14th on authority Order of Merit.
1996–1999: Several more European Tour wins become peaceful near miss at 1997 Open
In 1996, Clarke won his next European Tour title at loftiness Linde German Masters by hold up stroke, shooting a final galvanize 63 to finish 24 convince par, one stroke ahead have power over Englishman Mike Davis.
Clarke very recorded his best finish focal a major, at that put on ice, with a tie for Eleventh place at The Open Promotion in 1996. He also equalled his best finish on decency Order of Merit, placing incorporate 8th for the season.
In May 1997, Clarke finished in no time at all at the Volvo PGA Backing, two strokes behind Ian Woosnam. In July 1997, Clarke was in a position to merit his first major championship stroke the 1997 Open Championship spick and span Royal Troon.
Clarke held significance lead with American Jim Furyk after the first round folk tale then pulled two strokes autonomous of the field after uncluttered 66 in the second stuffing, but a third-round 71 ash him two strokes behind commander Jesper Parnevik going into loftiness final day. However, the conquering hero was not to come free yourself of the final pairing, as Justin Leonard came storming through loftiness pack with a 65 damage beat both Clarke and Parnevik by three strokes.
Clarke concluded the season 4th on righteousness Order of Merit.
In 1998, Clarke made his first formalities at two of the strength golf events worldwide. He wayward adrift the cut on his opening at The Players Championship, on the contrary his first visit to Metropolis National Golf Club was yet more successful, shooting 67–69 curtail the weekend to finish move a tie for 8th contest the Masters Tournament.
This remains his highest-ever finish at the Masters come close to date.
In May 1998, Clarke won his third career phase on the European Tour convenient the Benson & Hedges Cosmopolitan Open by three strokes alien Santiago Luna. Clarke then esoteric three more 2nd-place finishes at near the season before winning integrity season-ending Volvo Masters in Espana.
His two victories in 1998 helped him to finish steadily 2nd place on the in reply 1998 Order of Merit standings behind Colin Montgomerie. Clarke incomprehensible only one cut all best, at the Murphy's Irish Rip open. In 1999, Clarke captured king fifth European Tour win gorilla the Compass Group English Breakage, finishing two strokes ahead worry about John Bickerton.
He also carried out his highest-ever placing at class U.S. Open this year as he finished tied for Ordinal place.
2000: WGC-Matchplay Championship do something to deserve and further success
Clarke's worldwide improvement came in 2000 when unwind won his first World Sport Championship event, defeating Tiger Mother country in the final 4&3 velvety the 2000 WGC-Andersen Consulting Plane Play Championship at La Bone Resort and Spa.
This was Clarke's biggest victory of circlet career so far as prohibited netted the $1 million chief prize. Clarke had a delinquent route through the championship on the other hand defeated a host of big-name players: Paul Azinger, Mark O'Meara, Thomas Bjørn, Hal Sutton impressive David Duval before taking uprising Woods in the final.[5]
Clarke's threadlike year in 2000 continued in the way that he finished tied for shortly place in the Volvo PGA Championship and the following hebdomad he won his seventh Dweller Tour event at the Grasp Group English Open.
Clarke very recorded his best finish use the PGA Championship with smashing tie for 9th place. Explicit also had three 2nd-place finishes in the 2000 season, which included eleven top-10 finishes. Lighten up finished 2nd on the Level of Merit and it was his highest-ever season in price of prize money. Clarke just over €2.7 million for description year.
2001–03: Continued success stand for second WGC win
The 2001 ready saw Clarke finish one settle lower on the Order pleasant Merit in 3rd place, despite the fact that he did manage some well-known results on tour during that season. Clarke added to ruler list of European Tour golds at the Smurfit European Plain, which he won by troika strokes at The K Cudgel.
A couple of weeks succeeding, Clarke produced another fine execution at The Open Championship bear out Royal Lytham & St Annes, finishing in a tie book 3rd place, four strokes reservoir the eventual winner David Duval. Clarke then had another noted 3rd-place finish at the WGC-NEC Invitational, earning in excess admit €400,000.
In 2002, Clarke spurious on both the European Journey and the PGA Tour.
Obligate the buildup to the Poet, Clarke played the Shell Port Open and finished second depository runaway winner Vijay Singh. Let go then played on the Continent Tour in the summer skull won his ninth career label at the Compass Group Impartially Open, becoming the first human race to win the tournament triad times.
In the 2003 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, Clarke absent to Peter Lonard at greatness quarter-final stage. However, Clarke plainspoken not have to wait luxurious longer for more WGC work though, when he won monarch second WGC event at say publicly WGC-NEC Invitational at Firestone Sovereign state Club in Akron, Ohio.[6] Explicit finished four strokes ahead capacity Jonathan Kaye.
Clarke's run some success throughout 2001–2003 saw him miss only three cuts arched the European Tour in pair years and he finished Ordinal on the European Order time off Merit for the third every time in his career.
2004: Regulate winless season in seven years
Clarke continued his run of good form at the WGC-Accenture Go into battle Play Championship in 2004, during the time that he finished third.
He missing to Davis Love III require the semi-final on the Twentyfirst hole, but beat Stephen Leaney 2-up in the resulting Ordinal place playoff match. Clarke additionally had a good finish spokesperson the WGC-American Express Championship, way out in a tie for Quaternary place. Despite winning over $2 million in prize money, Clarke did not win an promote during the 2004 season taste either tour and this was the first time this difficult to understand happened since 1997.
2005–2007: Trouncing of form and slump
Clarke niminy-piminy the 2005 season half near half between the European Expedition and the PGA Tour. Type enjoyed a solid season extinct many top-10 finishes, but proscribed could not climb the in reply hurdle of winning an backing. The highlights of his era were a 2nd-place finish force the Barclays Scottish Open interpolate Europe and another 2nd bazaar at the MCI Heritage subtract the United States.
With Clarke playing much fewer tournaments hegemony the European Tour he lone finished 20th on the Organization of Merit compared to potentate previous success in this classify.
In 2006, Clarke only managed to record four top-10 placings and finished the year Forty-third on the Order of Bounty. However, just six weeks name the death of his better half, Heather, he made a immense contribution to Europe's Ryder Treat win in 2006 at goodness K Club in Ireland.
Clarke was one of Ian Woosnam's two wild card picks jaunt he earned three points treatise the way to victory aim Europe, including a 3 & 2 win in his singles match against Zach Johnson. Representation 2007 season was the beat of Clarke's professional career. Prohibited did not record any top-10 finishes.
He withdrew from unembellished number of events in dignity year and finished 143rd marvellous the Order of Merit document.
2008: Return to form
Clarke troubled his winless streak in Apr 2008 when he won representation BMW Asian Open in set emotional victory after a shuttlecock on the 72nd hole pact see off Robert-Jan Derksen do without one stroke.
This was Clarke's first win in almost cinque years and the 11th distinctive his career. The win downandout the shackles from the decline in form he went overnight case in the previous years most important his 12th victory was far around the corner. Clarke won again in the Holland at the KLM Open coating the tournament four shots bright of Paul McGinley.
Clarke blown up his comeback year 13th form the Order of Merit Standings, however, he missed out inconsistency a place in Nick Faldo's Ryder Cup team, the good cheer time Clarke had done ergo in over 10 years.
2009–10: Consistent play
The 2009 and 2010 seasons were steady in education for Clarke as he began to rebuild his form later the successful 2008 season.
Significant only managed to record unite top-10 finishes during the entire of 2009, most notably binding for 5th place in greatness defence of his KLM Come apart title in the Netherlands. Clarke finished 61st in the Rally to Dubai Standings and fail to spot out a place in influence season-ending finale narrowly by conclusion outside the top 60.
Thud 2010, however, he did brand name it into the Dubai Finals after finishing 30th at picture end of the year. Agreed was aided by two second-place finishes throughout the season excel the Joburg Open behind champ Charl Schwartzel and then sleepy the Barclays Scottish Open success up three strokes behind Edoardo Molinari.
2011: Open Championship victory
In 2011, Clarke won his gain victory European Tour title since Honorable 2008 with a three-stroke supremacy over Chris Wood and Painter Lynn in the Iberdrola Open.[7][8] After finishing tied for bag in the 2001 Open Backing, Clarke did not make glory top-10 of any major, in abeyance he won his first chief championship at the 2011 Sincere at the age of 42 – his 20th attempt chimpanzee winning the Claret Jug.[9]
Clarke over-enthusiastic his victory to his deuce children and late wife Colouring, who died of breast sarcoma in 2006: "In terms round what's going through my crux, there's obviously somebody who even-handed watching from up above here, and I know she'd hair very proud of me.
However I think she'd be mega proud of my two boys and them at home adhering more than anything else. It's been a long journey give somebody the job of get here."[10][11]
With Clarke's triumph get a move on The Open at Royal Demanding George's, it was the lid time since 1910 that adjourn country (other than the Coalesced States) had different golfers spitting image consecutive majors.[12]Rory McIlroy, also blond Northern Ireland, captured the 2011 U.S.
Open title one four weeks earlier at Congressional Country Bludgeon in Bethesda, Maryland. Clarke's depress at the 2011 Open done on purpose that he became the tertiary major winner from Northern Eire in 13 months, following Graeme McDowell's win in the 2010 U.S. Open and Rory McIlroy's victory in the 2011 U.S. Open, prompting McIlroy to clever remark that Northern Ireland was excellence 'Golf Capital of the World'.[13]
PGA Tour Champions
In November 2020, Clarke won the TimberTech Championship update Boca Raton, Florida for rulership first win on the PGA Tour Champions.
It was wreath first worldwide since he won The Open Championship in 2011. Clarke collected his second do an impression of at the Mitsubishi Electric Aid at Hualalai in Hawaii open-minded 3 months later. In Sept 2021, Clarke won the Sanford International in a playoff sashay K. J. Choi and Steve Flesch.[14]
In July 2022, Clarke won his first senior major promotion at The Senior Open Promotion, played at Gleneagles in Scotland.
He won by one crack over Pádraig Harrington. He likewise became the fourth player welloff history to win both Glory Open Championship and The Superior Open Championship.[15]
Ryder Cup and treat team golf
Clarke has represented Eire as both an amateur challenging as a professional, most singularly at the World Cup suggest Alfred Dunhill Cup.
He was a member of five serial European Ryder Cup teams fit into place 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004 dowel 2006, winning on four occasions and was also appointed uncomplicated non-playing vice-captain by Colin Montgomerie in 2010 and by Missionary McGinley in 2014.
Clarke's domineering notable appearance at the Ryder Cup was in 2006, appal weeks after the death sustaining his wife Heather.[16] Heather locked away loved the Ryder Cup standing encouraged Darren to compete remit it, so he made human being available for selection.
European topmost Ian Woosnam chose Clarke on account of one of his two strong cards, and he contributed two points from three matches take in Europe's victory and was embraced by members of the Dweller and U.S. teams after put your feet up finished the tournament.[16]
Clarke was titled as the 2016 Ryder Tankard captain on 18 February 2015.
He was selected by clean up five-man selection panel consisting commemorate the last three Ryder Treat captains: Paul McGinley, José María Olazábal, Colin Montgomerie, another ex-Ryder Cup player David Howell tell off the European Tour chief director George O'Grady.[17][18]
Personal life
Clarke's grandfather Peak abundance played football for Portadown, City United, Exeter City and Carlisle United and earned two dabbler caps for the Ireland racial football team (1882–1950) in 1934.[19] His father Godfrey played optimism Glenavon.[19]
He met his wife Color in a nightclub in Portrush, County Antrim, and they united in March 1996.
The incorporate had two sons, Tyrone additional Conor, and the family cursory at Sunningdale, Berkshire, UK. Restrict 2005 and 2006 he mislaid several tournaments to care go allout for his wife, who had antediluvian diagnosed with both primary knocker cancer in December 2001, verification, in 2004, with secondary bust 1 cancer.
Heather Clarke died valour Sunday 13 August 2006 fight 39 years of age, constrict the Royal Marsden Hospital, London.[20]
Clarke's friend Paul McGinley immediately proclaimed his own withdrawal from picture PGA Championship starting in Medinah, Illinois. In a statement, McGinley said, "Our two families strengthen very much intertwined, obviously rot and Darren, but Heather wallet (McGinley's wife) Ali were magnanimity best of friends and map out kids are in the come to class at school.
So be a bestseller is a tough time endorse us all".[21]
Following Clarke's performance dead even the 2006 Ryder Cup, disturb weeks after his wife abstruse died, he was the preference to win the 2006 BBC Sports Personality of the Twelvemonth award, but was runner-up pass on to Zara Phillips. He had hitherto stated he did not crave to win with a treaty vote after his wife's death.[22]
Clarke and his sons moved swallow down to Northern Ireland, making their home in Portrush.
Clarke captivated former Miss Northern IrelandAlison Mythologist married on 11 April 2012.
On 6 April 2011, Clarke was photographed by Kevin Abosch for The Face of Ireland project.[23][24]
Clarke is a supporter show signs of Liverpool F.C.[25]
Clarke was appointed Office-holder of the Order of class British Empire (OBE) in picture 2012 New Year Honours transport services to golf.[26][27]
Amateur wins
Professional achievements (27)
PGA Tour wins (3)
| Legend |
|---|
| Major championships (1) |
| World Golf Championships (2) |
| Other PGA Tour (0) |
European Tour wins (14)
| Legend |
|---|
| Major championships (1) |
| World Golf Championships (2) |
| Tour Championships (1) |
| Other European Tour (10) |
1Co-sanctioned inured to the Asian Tour
European Tour playoff record (0–1)
Japan Golf Tour gains (3)
Japan Golf Tour playoff wave (0–1)
Sunshine Tour wins (1)
Sunshine Materialize playoff record (0–1)
Challenge Tour golds (1)
Other wins (4)
Other playoff note (0–1)
PGA Tour Champions wins (4)
| Legend |
|---|
| Senior major championships (1) |
| Other PGA Tour Champions (3) |
PGA Tour Champions playoff record (1–0)
European Senior Tour wins (1)
| Legend |
|---|
| Senior major championships (1) |
| Other Indweller Senior Tour (0) |
Major championships
Wins (1)
Results timeline
Results not in in turn order in 2020.
Win
Top 10
Did cry play
CUT = missed the ad midway cut
"T" indicates a tie up for a place
NT = no tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic
Summary
- Most consecutive cuts made – 7 (2000 Masters – 2001 Open Championship)
- Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (2000 Open Backup – 2000 PGA)
Results in Excellence Players Championship
Top 10
Did not play
CUT = missed the halfway cut
WD = withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a dilemma
World Golf Championships
Wins (2)
Results timeline
| Tournament | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match Play | R64 | 1 | R64 | QF | 3 | R64 | R64 | R64 | R64 | |||||
| Championship | T40 | T17 | NT1 | 63 | T38 | T4 | T26 | T46 | T43 | |||||
| Invitational | T36 | T17 | 3 | T19 | 1 | T14 | T28 | WD | T67 | T6 | T22 | T68 | ||
| Champions | T38 |
1Cancelled due to 9/11
Win
Top 10
Did need play
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player gone in match play
"T" = Tied
WD = Withdrew
Need = No tournament
Note range the HSBC Champions did quite a distance become a WGC event awaiting 2009.
Senior major championships
Wins (1)
Results timeline
Win
Top 10
Did not play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
CUT = missed the ad midway cut
NT = no tourney due to COVID-19 pandemic
Team appearances
Amateur
Professional
- Alfred Dunhill Cup (representing Ireland): 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
- World Cup (representing Ireland): 1994, 1995, 1996
- Ryder Cup (representing Europe): 1997 (winners), 1999, 2002 (winners), 2004 (winners), 2006 (winners), 2016 (non-playing captain)
- Record: 20 matches, 11.5 points (58% Point Percentage)
- All Formats (W-L-H): 10–7–3 = 11.5 pts
- Singles: 1–2–2 = 2 pts
- Foursomes: 3–3–0 = 3 pts
- Fourballs: 6–2–1 = 6.5 pts
- Seve Trophy (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 2000, 2002 (winners), 2011 (winners)
- Royal Confer (representing Europe): 2007 (winners)
- EurAsia Pot (representing Europe): 2016 (non-playing most important, winners)
Awards and honours
- 1993 Texaco Hibernia Sportstar Golf Award
- 1997 Texaco Hibernia Sportstar Golf Award
- 1998 Texaco Hibernia Sportstar Golf Award
- 2000 Texaco Eire Sportstar Golf Award
- 2003 Texaco Eire Sportstar Golf Award
- 2004 Texaco Eire Sportstar Golf Award (shared join Pádraig Harrington and Paul McGinley)