darren clarke

38 messages
22/05/2006 at 22:45
a class act in every way.Wish he'd won and now, more than ever, hope he wins a major.
22/05/2006 at 22:55
he has been doing well recently and i wish we could see more of this. very gentlemanly today chipping out from the rough. if it was woods(if you remember the incident with the mud on the ball when the klaxon sounded) and co they would have gone for the green.
Edited: 22/05/2006 at 22:56
22/05/2006 at 22:58
I didnt see it but heard about it.
Quality, a rarity - a gentleman PGA tour pro.
22/05/2006 at 23:09
Here is a quote from Darren's website from today.



Bitten By A Pair Of Bogeys - 22.05.06

I'm obviously very disappointed not to have won the Irish 0pen because I really wanted it, but a bogey, par, bogey finish determined that it was not to be. I was told after my round that I had acted with incredible integrity when I returned to where my ball was on the 9th after play was abandoned on Sunday.

But honesty is part and parcel of the game and I could not have acted any other way. When I went back out this morning a lot of people had been looking for the ball and the area around it had been flattened. It was a much better lie than what I left it on Sunday. I could have put it on to the front of the green from where it was, but my conscience would not allow me to do it so I
just decided the best thing to do was chip it out sideways like I would have done the previous night.

I kept giving myself chances and didn't make any putts so the mistakes I made on 16 and 18 cost me very dearly indeed. 0n the 18th, I just moved out of my second shot and tried to play a little pitch and run on my third and chunked it, leaving a very tough putt.

To say I'm disappointed is to say the least, but one day I'm determined to win the Irish 0pen. Congratulations to my good friend Thomas Bjorn on his success and I would like to thank him for his very kind words at the presentation ceremony directed towards Heather and myself.

............................................



23/05/2006 at 08:19
Hats off to a Class Act.
23/05/2006 at 08:42
I cant help feeling that there are a number of top class pro's in europe and in the us who could learn a lot from darren clarke
23/05/2006 at 11:11
i actually watched it

the referee was happy for him to play it. the head ref was too. They were calling it 'rub of the green'

i think his caddy even wanted him to play it - you could see him jokingly push him away from the referee.

Just before he took his wedge you could clearly here DC say say that his 'conscience would be clear' if he just hit it out.

the other two in his group weren't close by when he hit his second so he explained it to them at the green and again you could hear that he thought it just wouldn't be right.

And he made par too - which proves there are golfing gods :)

I think Ross Fisher will have learned a great lesson there.

DC - earned himself a new fan in me too.

Makes me think back to Monty incident which was before i watched golf, but i heard about...when you know it ain't right....do the D(e)C(ent) thing.
Edited: 23/05/2006 at 11:11
23/05/2006 at 11:26
MisterS3 - i think he actually made bogey.

I did feel for him as he walked off the 18th - he looked gutted.
23/05/2006 at 11:43

There were times going back a few years ago when DC was not my favorite golfer. He has tons of talant but going back then he often exploded in a fit of temper and thus lost any chances on those occasions of winning.

He has got to grips with that now, and in my opinion will win a major, when he's hot he can beat anyone as we have seen in the World Championship.

What he did in the Irish Open, was a great show of honesty and sportsmanship, above and beyond what was required. It was even more amazing that in retrospect it possibly stopped him from winning a home event he so dearly wants to win. R E S P E C T.
23/05/2006 at 12:28
Another new DC fan here. Better to lose honorably than win without a clear conscience.
23/05/2006 at 16:38
It's a remarkable show of sportsmanship. i'd love to think i'd have been able to do the same thing.
23/05/2006 at 21:44
worm i heard he was chucking clubs a few weeks ago.

a DC fan here aswell, lets hope this form shows in the majors this year
23/05/2006 at 23:12
Sorry, but I am in a minority of one here but i think it was stupid. There was nothing to affect his conscience as he hadn't trampled the ground himself. He disadvantaged himself by doing it as I doubt many others would have done it and I don't see why they should. If the scenario was slightly different and a few people were looking for the ball and the ground was trampled at the time he would not have had any qualms about hitting to the green.

The rules of golf would not have been broken, nor, in my opinion, any rules of etiquette.

I would love to have seen this scenario happen in the last few holes of a major and see him throw it away because of his conscience.
23/05/2006 at 23:23
I wish I was as stupid and as successful and naturally talented. Ho hum.

23/05/2006 at 23:58
He is naturally talented, and obviously he has more important things to think about just now, but does anyone actually think he will win a major. I like Darren & I like Colin Montgomery although they are two different personalities, but I can't see either of them winning a big one. I don't think Darren is ruthless enough, as witnessed by events yesterday. It makes him a good man but for someone with his ability he should have won a lot more
24/05/2006 at 00:06
"for someone with his ability he should have won a lot more"

OK, so he hasn't won a major - yet. But what do you mean when you say "a lot more"?

Here are a few of his career highlights. (Not all of them either).

Although much of 2005 was spent away from the course, the Ulsterman nevertheless managed to notch six top ten finishes in 14 European Tour outings on his way to 20th on the Order of Merit. Also successfully defended his Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters crown in Japan at the end of the season to maintain his record of having won somewhere around the world every year since 1998. In February 2000, he became the first European golfer to win a World Golf Championships event, capturing the Accenture Match Play, beating David Duval in the semi-final and Tiger Woods in the 36 hole final at La Costa Resort and Spa, before becoming the only player, apart from Woods, to have more than one WGC success to his name when he won the 2003 NEC Invitational at Firestone Country Club. Not a stranger to ‘firsts’ however. In the 1999 Smurfit European Open he became the first player on The European Tour to shoot 60 for a second time, having achieved it first in the 1992 European Monte Carlo Open – and owns a car registration DC 60 in reference to those rounds. In 2001 he became the first Irishman to win on home soil since John O’Leary in 1982, when he captured the Smurfit European Open, and in 2002, became the first player to win the English Open three times. Has also been part of a winning European Ryder Cup Team on three occasions, the most recent at Oakland Hills when he claimed three and a half points out of five. Helped organise a special Pro-Am at Portmarnock in September 1998 in aid of the victims of the Omagh bombing tragedy. Played in, and won the inaugural Benmore Developments Northern Ireland Masters on the 2003 Challenge Tour and donated his €35,877 cheque to his own Darren Clarke Foundation, to help further the development of junior golf in Ireland.



Sorry - but again, I disagree with you. I think he's a very successful man.
24/05/2006 at 08:52

Cs - I think the odd indiscretion, considering his circumstances, is allowed, don't you?

Forbesie - Other golfers I have since spoken with have said the same as you, but it does not take away the fact that what he did was exceptionally honourable and decent. I'd take his way any day. And yes, I believe he would do it in a major. In fact he wanted to win this event very much indeed and to him it is probably as important as a major!
24/05/2006 at 13:38
Each year I write to Darren's Management Co to ask for a shirt donation. (Some of you will remember that I am always trying to raise money for my local hospice rebuild). I mentioned in my email to them about all your kind and suportive comments and gave the GM web address. I received a reply this morning saying that they had passed on my email to Darren. So with a bit of luck he may look in and see our opinions.



24/05/2006 at 13:47
Bloody hell, I hope he doesn't look back through a few of my old posts!
24/05/2006 at 13:49
I've already sent him your address Simon!
24/05/2006 at 18:05
For an Irish player in a position to produce a home-grown winner in this tournament for the 1st time in so long to act in this way says it all! He deserves nothing but good fortune (in all aspects of his life) from now on. I hope he goes on to prove that not only is he a great advocate for the game but also one of it's finest players.
24/05/2006 at 18:18
worm i always use it an excuse for when i do it.

"well the pros do it so shouldn't we?" ;-)
24/05/2006 at 18:19
Well done Darren Clarke.
24/05/2006 at 21:16
No doubt that what he did was sportsmanship of the highest order and he is rightly being praised for it. What people seem to overlook, though, is that he didn't lose the tournament because of the bogey he took on 9 but because of two atrocious shots in a row on 18.

Let's remind ourselves that after two shots Darren was in the middle of the fairway, some 10 or 20 paces off the front of the green on the par 5 18th. He was in the joint lead at -4 at the time with Tommy Bjorn and Paul Casey (his nearest competitors) in the group behind.

Now what happens next is staggering. First, Darren takes a lofted club in order to get the ball all the way up to the flag at the top of the green - and completely fluffs his shot. Instead of sailing majestically to the top tier, the ball barely makes it 1/3 up the green. (At this point, I feel a lot of sympathy for him because this is a shot that I have played many times.)

Anyway, while he has a long uphill putt at least he is on the green in regulation and who knows - a par at the last might still be good enough to get him into a playoff. However he then compounds his error by hitting a weak putt which is easily 15 ft short. Two minutes later he has missed his second putt and walks off with a bogey on a par 5, having been in prime position after two shots.

So what's the point? He's still a great sportsman and a great golfer, right? The point is that yes, he's a great and completely honest guy, yes, he's probably one of the most naturally gifted ball strikers in the game today, but unfortunately he is not the most composed golfer I have ever seen when it comes to the crunch.

And that is also the reason why this year, for the first time in five years, I will not be putting a tenner on DC to win the Open. (He'll probably go and win it now, just to spite me...)

Peter
24/05/2006 at 21:29
all he needs is some sunny weather so he can bring the cubans out to relax those highly strung nerves.
26/05/2006 at 21:23
LGL

There is no doubt Darren is successful and you rightly state your facts. However, despite being one of the most talented players in the world, he has only won 15 times (on various tours including the Challenge Tour) in the 16 or so years he has been a pro and has never been number 1 in Europe.

15 wins is impressive I just feel that he could have won double that with his ability and a ruthless streak.

26/05/2006 at 22:00
Oh dear.

Controversy time.

DC = 15 wins (albeit in 16 or so years)

For a good percentage of those years, maybe something a little bit closer to home.......... has strayed his attention from white ball/green grass/small hole. (for bloody good reasons and I speak from personal experience)

Given that DC is a success/failure (depending on opinion) , how many of you in a pi55y sunday medal where you would pick up a glass and a £20 voucher for the pro shop (if you won) would choose to play the chip or the shot to the green.

I would like to think i would do the decent thing, however if it was on the 18th with a chance of a shot over water to the green........



who knows?




26/05/2006 at 22:36
Maybe that is why I am such a fan. I despise ruthless.

27/05/2006 at 01:23
i'm with lgl here. Who knows what he'd won had he been more "ruthless" ? He may have won less. If you'd rather admire the bloke for taking advantage of what happened, well thankfully you're in the minority.
There's more to life and Darren Clarke than a few poxy titles.
27/05/2006 at 06:57
For me, what says a lot about the man is that after both of his last two Ryder Cup singles matches, he has sat beside the last green with his opponent - Duval at the Belfry and Love in the States last time out - and just chewed the fat with them for what seemed like ages.
I remember camera shots well after those matches were over and DC is still there sitting and chatting away to his opponent. And the comeraderie and respect between Love and DC during their match was easy to see.
Winner, loser, whatever. Just makes me think 'proper guy'.
27/05/2006 at 07:57
I think DC has got his priorities right. He's obviousely making himself a nice living from the game, has won a number of tournaments but has I believe he's one of those who realise there's more to life than just winning tournaments.

We can all admire the Faldos of the world for their golfing excellence and persuit of perfection. On the other hand it's nice to see a top pro like DC who plays in the top ranks and still manages to behave like a member of the human race.

Golf is a lot more than just a game, but it's not everything.
27/05/2006 at 08:00
I backed him to win at Wentworth this week. I think it was more a case of backing him because he deserves it after what he did last week. Never mind!

I also remember seeing him with Davis Love after their match at the Ryder cup and if I remember correctly he handed Love a Cuban and the two of them sat there smoking away and chatting.

As eggsy says he is a "proper guy" and I'd love him to win a big one this year.
30/05/2006 at 00:22
I am not going to win any arguments about this, I know. I will just say that I agree that Darren is a decent fellow and words cannot describe the bravery he and his wife are showing at this time. I just hope in 20 years time or whenever he hangs up his clubs he is happy with the number of wins under his belt and that he has no regrets with being a "class act" but a major loser. (I am sure he will be happy). I do hope he does win a big one - I am not trying to be anti-Darren
Edited: 30/05/2006 at 00:23
30/05/2006 at 00:36
I'm sure Darren would love to win a major. Which professional golfer wouldn't? But it's not that easy. I can only imagine the stress and the level of competitiveness there is in the game at this level. Who's to say he still won't? The point is, that's he's none too shabby a player as he is, regardless of his tragically sad personal problems at present. His skill has made him a multi millionaire (for those of you who measure success in financial terms), and he gets to earn his living at something which he obviously loves to do. Isn't that the pinnacle in all our lives? Imagine, getting paid to do what you love most.

Maybe in my next life LOL ;-)

30/05/2006 at 09:07
LGL - have you ever considered starting up a fan club for DC?

You would be the ideal candidate..

(seriously BTW).
30/05/2006 at 10:47
LOL. No, I've never considered it.

I'm not the most diplomatic person I know so I think I would be in trouble from the start!

30/05/2006 at 10:57
I'm with LGL.
This modern ruthless win at all costs mentality is what has destroyed the "sport" element of so many sports and games. I'm ancient enough to remember when rugby, football and tennis were played with spirit and fair play.

Golf is a sport whose players effectively self rule their own games, and its a dangerous step to have an ethos of winning being more important than sportsmanship.

DC played the game as it should be played, and should be commended for his actions when near all his fellow competitors choose ruthless before sportsmanship.
30/05/2006 at 11:36
Thank you to DC for restoring the slightly soiled face of golf (Monty in the far east, TW having fans move a boulder, hissy fits from Retief over the greens at Wentworth and so on). Darren is one of the few pro golfers with a personality which comes across to the spectator. Too many of these guys are losing touch with the "ordinary" golfer.

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