Darren Clarke’s declared winning The Open Championship is now like having a 15thub in his bag.
Winning The Open is like having a 15th club in the bag says Darren Clarke. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
Clarke got his first look at this week’s PGA Championship host venue very early yesterday morning (local time) playing nine holes of the Atlanta Athletic Club course in the company of fellow Major Champion, Rory McIlroy.
The pair will get to see a lot more of each other this week as PGA of America organisers have grouped the Ulster pair with Masters champion, Charl Schwartzel for the opening two rounds.
And if a non-American should win ‘Golf’s Last Shot At Championship Glory’ than it will be the first occasion since 1994 that Americans have not captured a Major in a season.
Clarke was the first into the official Media Centre ahead of 14 players, over Tuesday and today (WED), to sit in front of the media.
And after getting his first look at the Atlanta course in a decade, Clarke was very impressed with the nine holes he’d played.
“The golf course was magnificent, it really was, and it was just superb,” said Clarke.
“The fairways, you could almost put them down as carpet in your house at home, they are that good.
“I can’t remember that much about the golf course, I think I might only have been here for two days in 2001 the last time we were.”
Indeed, Clarke had the weekend off after rounds of 73 and 69.
But in arriving back to the Atlanta course as a Major Champion, there’s a renewed spring in Clarke’s step, even if he was soaked in sweat, ahead of turning 43 on Sunday.
“Everything has been a bit of whirlwind since winning The Open but I am here this week to compete, and do the best I can but then it’s going to be hot, and it’s going to be tough,” hes said.
“But winning at Royal St. George’s had taught me to be more patient and to never give up.
“I was very patient the whole week, of which I have not been that often in the past. But you know, you never know what the game is going to give you. You never know what’s around the corner.
“Just never give up; keep going, keep going, keep going. That’s what it taught me.
“But now that I’ve won a first Major Championship, I can come to this week, and the other Majors and WGC’s that I will now qualify for, as though I’ve got a 15th club in the bag.
“That’s because I’ve been there and I’ve done it.
“But going forward that’s an ambition I want to tap into, most definitely. I was in a good frame of mind that week and hopefully I can get myself back into that frame of mind this week.”
Clarke played the opening two days of last week’s WGC – Bridgestone Invitational with Tiger Woods, a four-time U.S. PGA Champion
“Tiger’s got one tournament under his belt already since his injury, so that’s always a tough assignment coming back after a long time off,” said Clarke.
“I’m sure he would have been hoping for a better result than he had last week but now he’s got a tournament behind him, I’m sure if he can play his best, he will contending this week.
And if Clarke should be sitting back in the Media Centre on Sunday night with the gleaming Rodman Wanamaker trophy beside him?
“I was hoping no one would mention that it was my birthday, Sunday,” laughed Clarke.
“It would be very special. I may go AWOL for a few days again like did I the last time. But it would be very special, yes.”
