Darren pulls no punches as he rounds on party critics

DARREN CLARKE has told critics of his post-British Open victory celebrations to “get a life” and put his drinking into perspective.

The hero of Royal St George’s was criticised for the manner in which he partied at home in Portrush following his maiden Major victory 11 days ago and the 42-year-old vented his frustration at the coverage his drinking received in sections of the media.

Asked if anything had surprised him in people’s reaction to the British Open victory, Clarke replied: “All of my messages have been fantastic. But there’s been a little bit of chat about, ‘he shouldn’t have had a drink, he shouldn’t have done this, he shouldn’t have done that’.

“People need to get real. Look what happened in Norway over the weekend.

“I won a golf tournament and people are concerned about whether or not I had one pint too many. Get a life. It’s sport. It’s fantastic and I’m very fortunate to win, but you had all those people murdered in Norway. That’s a lot more important than talking about whether I had one pint too many or not.

“That’s my opinion. That’s the bit that surprised me.”

Asked if he would be changing his ways in his new guise as a Major champion, Clarke, who has been nursing a cold for the past few days, said: “I’ve been in bed for a couple of days but no, I’m not going to change anything I do. Why? I think it would be very poor of me if I was to change the way I am because of a few people’s opinions.

“I haven’t changed, I’d like to think I haven’t changed. Drink a little bit too much, smoke a little bit too much, and enjoy myself a little bit too much at times.

“The game is very tough at times, and the game you think you’ve got it in the palm of your hand, and then all of a sudden it disappears. For me, the way I relax and try and get away from it is to have a pint now and again and relax and enjoy myself. I don’t plan to change that in any shape or form.”