Clarke’s Open aspiration
After a week of celebrations in Portrush and a weekend nursing a head cold, the 42-year-old British Open champion went back to work yesterday, having driven down from the North in his Ferrari 612 Scaglietti to be one of the first players to arrive at the venue.
The Claret Jug that came with his emotional three-stroke victory at Royal St George’s travelled down to Killarney with Clarke and will take pride of place during this week’s Irish Open alongside Rory McIlroy’s US Open trophy as golf in this country prepares for a week of celebration at its national open championship with other major champions Pádraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell also in the field.
“Last week has been such a whirlwind for me in every way, doing this that and the other all over the place, it’s been a fantastic week but very tiring,” Clarke said. “I couldn’t think of anything better than to come back and play in the Irish Open a week after, it’s just wonderful. Sales are fantastic, I believe the tickets are all but sold out. I hope they get the big crowds coming again and we get the good weather.”
Clarke acknowledged that his success and that of his cohorts, Harrington, McDowell and McIlroy, had helped to keep the Irish Open going through uncertain times since the loss of 3 as title sponsor last winter.
“I think 3 have been a fantastic sponsor for the last two years and it’s a shame to lose them,” he said.
“The Irish Open is a massive event and is full of tradition on the European Tour.
“Hopefully we can do all we can to keep it going, get it better and better and put it back up where it should be.”
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