Golf: Clarke claims July award

Darren Clarke has been named the European tour’s Asprey and Garrard golfer of the month for July.

Clarke became the first Irish player to win on home soil for 19 years when he lifted the Smurfit European Open.

‘‘Nothing can beat the feeling of winning in front of your own supporters I will always cherish that moment,’’ said the Ulsterman, who also finished joint third in the Open and seventh in the Scottish Open to re-ignite his hopes of winning the European Order of Merit.

The award earns a £1,000 charity donation to the Golf Foundation.