Back to normal for people’s champ

DARREN CLARKE signed off his British Open championship victory press conference on Sunday night by trying to explain what his great appeal was to the fans who had roared him on to success at Royal St George’s.

“Because I’m a bit of a normal bloke, aren’t I, really?” Clarke concluded. “I like to go to the pub and have a pint, jump on Easy Jet, fly home, buy everybody a drink, just normal.

“There’s not many airs and graces about me. I was a little bit more difficult to deal with in my earlier years, and I’ve mellowed some. Just a little bit. But I’m just a normal guy playing golf, having a bit of fun.”