12/22/24
July 17, 2011
Darren Clarke Wins British Open: Darren Clarke won the British Open by three strokes Sunday over Americans Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson. Clarke, 42, wins the second consecutive major for Northern Ireland. Holding the claret jug after his victory, Clarke made a tearful reference to his wife Heather who died in 2006 of breast cancer. "Somebody up there is watching down as well," he said.
The Chubby Slam is on - Schwartzel, McIlroy and Clarke are all clients of Andrew "Chubby" Chandler. As is Oosthuizen, who won the Open last year.
Favourite picture so far:
I wonder if he's playing the game I love to play: "How far back can you get without cheating?" I always get stuck at Bill Rogers, 1981.
Favourite quote so far, when a journalist asked if he, like other winners, had woken up many times during the night and just stared at the trophy in disbelief:
"I'll let you know if that happens if and when I ever make it to bed. The party only ended about half an hour ago. I'm going back to Northern Ireland later today. I'm not expecting to get any sleep until about Wednesday."
We don't win often*, but we celebrate it in style.
On a side note: can someone please sedate Phil? Seriously the stupidest golfer who ever walked a course. He's like a big labrador. I picture Bones walking into the house in the morning and lifting the golf bag, causing Big Phil to chase himself round the kitchen for five minutes barking "Golf! Golf! Golf!"
If he'd half a brain he'd have won ten majors by now. He's like a man with 20-20 vision chosing to play with his eyes closed.
*OK, so we've won 3 out of the last 6, but those have been our first majors since 1947.
posted by JJ at 12:00 PM on July 18, 2011
And wouldn't it be cool to see Northern Ireland get a Tiger Slam?
Where do we sign the petition for a sponsors' exemption for JJ for the next two majors?
posted by holden at 01:05 PM on July 18, 2011
So, here's a question for the golf-following SpoFites -- is the 12 different winners in the past 12 majors good or bad for golf?
posted by holden at 01:44 PM on July 18, 2011
It's probably good if you're already a golf fan and you know how good these guys are week-in week-out, but, from the perspective of most sports perhaps, it probably brings more new people into the game to have someone dominating and breaking records.
Where do we sign the petition for a sponsors' exemption for JJ for the next two majors?
www.catchyourselfon.com
I played on Sunday while the golf was recording, planning to not hear the result and watch it later (which worked well for everything other than my liver). First three holes, I wrote "Good luck, DC!" on my golf ball - lost all three tee shots (which is some achievement at my course). I thought the omens weren't good, but was glad to later have it confirmed that life still doesn't work that way.
posted by JJ at 02:08 PM on July 18, 2011
You have to feel great for Clarke. A story like his will never get old. And wouldn't it be cool to see Northern Ireland get a Tiger Slam?