Darren Clarke is just one round away from the dream of becoming a Major Champion.
With the overwhelming majority of the crowd on his side, Clarke ended the third round with a third sub-70 score signing for rounds of 68, 68 and 69 for a five under par tally.
It’s the first time in his career Clarke has gone into the final round leading a Major Championship.
Darren Clarke enjoys a one stroke lead after three rounds. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
And given the crowd reaction on a mainly wet and windy Saturday, the Guinness drinking, cigar-smoking Portrushman would be a popular champion.
“If somebody had given me 69 before I was going out to play, I would have bitten their hand off,” said Clarke.
“Saying that, we did get very fortunate with the draw and sometimes to win any tournament the draw can make a big difference.
“But in the Open Championship it makes a huge difference. We got very lucky.
“But I’m very excited about what lays ahead. The Open is the biggest and best tournament in the world.
“I’ve failed 19 times to try and lift the Claret Jug, and tomorrow I have an opportunity, and I’m very pleased to be leading into the last round.”
Scoreboard after three rounds. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
And among those inside the ropes willing Clarke on to a first Major is McIlroy, who just last month captured the U.S. Open.
“But it’s just fantastic to see Darren up there and still leading,” said McIlroy after carding a third round 74 for a four-over par tally.
“He’s waited a long time to win a Major, and it would be great if this week was the week where he get his first one.”
Clarke will play the last round with Johnson, the American who still carries the scars of losing last year’s U.S. Open at Pebble Beach when leading going into the final day.
The Myrtle Beach player then blew to chance to make amends for Pebble Beach when he grounded his club in a bunker, but what he thought was a waste bunker, down the final hole of the U.S. PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.
Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn (71) and American Rickie Fowler (68) will start the last day tied in third place at two under par.
NOTES OF CLARKE’S EFFORT TO DATE
- Making his 20th British Open start, Darren Clarke followed up consecutive 2-under 68s with a third-round 69. He’ll enter the final round of the 2011 British Open with a one-stroke lead over Dustin Johnson (68).
- Clarke is seeking to become the first British Open winner to post four rounds in the 60s since Tiger Woods in 2000.
- Clarke is a 13-time European Tour winner and this year is his third start at Royal St. George’s (finishing T39 in 1993 and T59 in 2003). In 53 previous Major Championship starts, he enjoyed his best finish (T2) at the 1997 British Open at Royal Troon. He has 16 made cuts in 20 starts at the British Open.
- The 42-year-old is seeking to become just the second player from Northern Ireland to win The Open (Fred Daly, 1947, Royal Liverpool).
- Clarke also is hoping to join recent major champions from Northern Ireland – Rory McIlroy (U.S. Open – 2011) and Graeme McDowell (U.S. Open – 2010).
