Clarke wants that jug back

Darren Clarke may no longer be in possession of the Claret Jug but his place in the champions’ locker room at Royal Lytham & St Annes this week will be a fitting place to plot his British Open title defence.

The iconic silver trophy was returned to the R&A yesterday as 43-year-old Clarke brought down the curtain on a memorable 12 months as champion.

His three-stroke win over American duo Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson at Royal St George’s had brought him his first Major success at the 54th attempt in a week that had, unusually, begun in the champions’ area of the Kent link course’s locker room.