The world is watching

IT really doesn’t get much better than this.

As the European Tour rolls into Killarney this week for the Irish Open, presented by Discover Ireland 2011, there has never been more for this country’s golf community to celebrate, while for Ireland’s newest Major champion Darren Clarke the showpiece will constitute the continuance of an already week-long party.

“I will be in Killarney,” Clarke promised soon after hoisting the Claret Jug at Royal St George’s after his emotional Open victory. “I may not be sober for the Irish Open, but I will be in Killarney.

“The Irish Open promises to be extra special this year with Rory and I bringing back the US Open Trophy and the Claret Jug.”

Such is the joy surrounding Irish golf right now it is barely imaginable that five years ago, in 2006, the biggest concern was whether Ireland would find a player capable of following John O’Leary as the first homegrown Irish Open champion since 1981, let alone a successor to Fred Daly’s 1947 Open Championship victory.

Pádraig Harrington changed all that a year later, and on both counts. First he broke the national Open hoodoo with his play-off win over Bradley Dredge at Adare Manor and two months later at Carnoustie he became this country’s first major champion in 60 years.

Four years on from that, and it seems as if you can’t walk on to a tee box anywhere in this island without tripping over one of them. Harrington has three major championship victories to his name, Graeme McDowell continued the success with his 2010 US Open success at Pebble Beach and this year we have been in the privileged position to see McIlroy and Clarke win back-back majors within the space of a month, McIlroy succeeding McDowell at Congressional Country Club in June.

And with Shane Lowry following Harrington as Irish Open champion in 2009, whilst still an amateur if you will, even the national championship is in danger of delivering a home win every other year.

Which means.... now that couldn’t happen, could it?

You would not bet against it. Yet, even if a non-Irishman wins this week in Killarney, as was the case last year when England’s Ross Fisher held off Harrington, it will not take the shine off what has the potential to be a wonderful celebration of Irish success. And six major victories for Irish golfers out of the last 17 starts is success by anyone’s standards.

“Irish golf has never been in this situation,” Harrington said last month, when the run stood at five wins in 16 majors. “We have had great runs before. We have had some great players and great role models over the last number of years.... but it’s never been to the extent that three different guys have gone on to win majors.

“We have had major players come and play the Irish Open, but never before have those players been Irish. So it is a time that will be interesting to see. It may be a time that will never be repeated. Maybe it will be repeated. But certainly, people want to see the current US Open Champion, last year’s US Open champion, three-time major winner.

“In 20 years’ time that might be an option but it is a time that may be marked in history; it’s certainly a time for people to come out and watch.”

McIlroy certainly thinks so, with 42-year-old Clarke’s success nine days ago providing a very welcome icing on the cake.

“Darren’s magnificent victory at Royal St George’s means the Irish Open will be even more of a celebration,” McIlroy says.

“The reception I received last month when I brought the US Open Trophy home was unbelievable and I’m sure it will be even better in Killarney when Darren also has the Claret Jug with him. It’s an amazing time for Irish golf and I’m sure the fans will help make the Irish Open a truly special event.”

McIlroy may well appreciate Clarke’s new-found Major champion status given the global acclaim his victory at Congressional received. The clamour for all things Rory since his record-breaking romp has been phenomenal, as have the predictions for the 22-year-old from Holywood’s potential.

Giving that he became the youngest US Open champion since Bobby Jones, pundits are already forecasting McIlroy to surpass Tiger Woods’ current tally of 14 and Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18, something the young man is already railing against.

“I’ve just won one,” McIlroy said. “I’ve only won three tournaments as a pro, to start talking about winning 18 majors and this and that, yeah, that was very premature.”

And though Clarke is the current man of the moment, McIlroy expects and understands he will hardly be in the shadows at Killarney.

“Irish Open is obviously a big week for us. But I’m still one of this year’s Major winners, so there’s always going to be a little bit of expectation and a bit of pressure on you. I’m looking forward to it and it’s a week that I enjoy.”

As the catalyst for all that has followed, the 2007 and 08 Open champion and 2008 PGA winner, Harrington is in the perfect position to offer some words of wisdom to McIlroy.

“You know what advice I would give Rory going down there? Enjoy it. Really enjoy it. I think Graeme would have a better handle on it considering he was in the exact same position Rory is, winning the US Open, going home to Ireland. Everybody is going to want to see him.

“It’s the Irish Open. He’s got such an affinity with it. Yes, he’ll want to win it, but he should also enjoy the experience of being the US Open champion and accept that people will genuinely be wanting to turn out to see the US Open champion, and he can turn out there and really, really enjoy the success of the US Open.

“Regardless of whether he goes on and wins the Irish Open or not, it’s a very special feeling to be holding a major trophy and playing in the Irish Open. And it doesn’t come around all that often, so he should make an effort to really draw on it from the crowds, really, enjoy the buzz that will be there.

“And I’m sure like there was massive crowds turned out to see Graeme last year. I’m sure they will be equally as big or bigger this year.

“So I think it could be one of those experiences that he will never forget.”

It will also, as Harrington pointed out recently and in spite of McIlroy’s modesty, work the other way, with the young US Open champion’s presence at this week’s Irish Open offering an opportunity for golf fans on this island to witness a potential history maker at the start of his journey into the game’s history books.

“When it comes to golf there is a talent that is worth seeing now and he’s right on top of his game,” Harrington said of McIlroy. “But he could go forward from here and you want to be one of those people that said, ‘I saw him when he was 22’ and you’ll be able to tell your friends. You would certainly want to come out and watch.

“I really do think at Killarney, he’ll draw incredible crowds, because he is potentially, a player that you’ve never seen before, essentially. If you don’t get out there and see him now, yes, he may get better, but you want to be able to say I saw him when he was 22 and this was a point in his career that we certainly were watching.

“I’m sure plenty of other professional golfers will be watching him.”

Make that “them”, Pádraig. This is the week the world will be watching Ireland celebrate its four Major champions, heroes all.