Clarke: Open winner must play it straight

Defending champion Darren Clarke handed back the Claret Jug after a year as Open Champion and warned those wishing to succeed him as Open champion that they had better play it straight at Royal Lytham & St Annes this week.

The Lancashire links course just south of Blackpool will host its first Open since 2001, when Clarke tied for third behind winner David Duval.

It would take another decade and a move home from London to Portrush before the Dungannon golfer would get his hands on the Claret Jug, outsmarting the English Channel winds at Royal St George’s in Kent to land his maiden Major by three strokes from Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson.