It had been a wait of a long 68-years but Northern Ireland’s own Darren Clarke delivered the 148th Open Championship a dream start.
After being introduced on the first tee at 6.35am Clarke hit the first tee shot in golf’s oldest major.
It had been a wait of 68 years and Clarke did not disappoint finding the first fairway and then after a short-iron into the green the now 50-year old holed his birdie putt to be also the first to lead The Open.
Darren Clarke hits the very first shot of the 148th Open. Photo – RandA/Getty.
“Darren can go on and shoot 80 as that birdie is the story,” said one colleague walking with the opening group that included Amateur champion, James Sugure and American Charlie Hoffman, and with Hoffman again sporting an Augusta green glove.
If Clarke’s dream start was not enough he pulled out a 9-iron at the 186-yard par-3 third hole to land the ball some 18-inches from the hole.
They’re off up the first fairway and dream of a first Open in 68-years is real (Photo – RndA/Getty)
Clarke holed the putt and leaderboards around the Dunluce course were showing: 3-under Darren Clarke.
Could the R & A, the Royal Portrush Golf Club and those living in Northern Ireland have wished for a better first group storyline?
