Darren Clarke has earned a place in one of golf’s most exclusive clubs after winning the Senior Open presented by Rolex with a clutch 72nd-hole birdie.
The 53-year-old Northern Irishman overcame a near two-hour weather delay and a late charge from Pádraig Harrington to capture the title by a stroke from the freshly-minted U.S. Senior Open champion at Gleneagles.
Clarke joins Gary Player, Sir Bob Charles and Tom Watson as just the fourth player to achieve the Open, Senior Open double and couldn’t be happier about it.
He’s done the double! @DarrenClarke60 wins The #SeniorOpen Presented by @ROLEX 🏆 pic.twitter.com/m02iHvqPPz
— Legends Tour (@euLegendsTour) July 24, 2022
“I’ve made no secret of the fact that I wanted to win this more than anything,” said Clarke who won the 2011 Open at Royal St George’s.
“From when I turned 50, this is the one I wanted to win, so I could set it beside the other one. It’s a pretty good feeling right now.
“I feel very privileged to get my name on The Claret Jug and now to get my name on this one as well and go beside some legends of the game. I feel very humbled and very honoured.
“Fulfilling your dreams is a very lucky thing and I’ve been able to do it a few times in my career.”
Clarke started the final round tied on -9 with 2016 Senior Open champion Paul Broadhurst and remained in pole position, albeit briefly in a four-way tie after bogeying the 10th, until a torrential forced a one hour, 58-minute suspension of play.
Upon the resumption, Harrington birdied 17 and 18 to set the clubhouse target at -9. Clarke has regained the solo lead with a birdie on 12 but then was forced indoors. He returned to par the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th and then two putted from well off the green on the par-5 18th to edge Harrington.
The moment @DarrenClarke60 won The #SeniorOpen Presented by @ROLEX ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/QevVaw6zym
— Legends Tour (@euLegendsTour) July 24, 2022
Ernie Els, Broadhurst, Thongchai Jaidee, Steven Alker, Doug Barron and Mauricio Molina finished tied third at -8, a shot clear of Colin Montgomerie.
“When I won some of my biggest tournaments – The Open, WGCs – I had a sense of calmness. I don’t know where it comes from because if I’d been able to grab a hold of it a few more times in my career, I probably would have won a few more times,” said Clarke.
“But this week, I had that calmness again. I think it comes from being accepting, knowing that I hit some poor shots now and again.
“I’m not going to hole that many putts or whatever. And when you’re accepting, it’s easier just to amble along and accept the outcome.”
The outcome on Sunday was wholly acceptable to Clarke. Historic too.
