Clarke’s Open aspiration

DARREN CLARKE roared into Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in his sleek Ferrari sports car yesterday intent on helping the Irish Open, presented by Discover Ireland, “back up where it should be”.

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.