Exclusive …. “Rory Was Always Going To Be A Superstar” … First Of Three Articles Featuring Irish Legend Darren Clarke.

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The following is the first of three articles following a wonderful and long overdue sit-down chinwag with the Irish golfing legend Darren Clarke …..

Firstly, my timing could not have been more perfect with Clarke as the former Open Champion having just posted an opening 63 to co-lead on day one of the Champions Tour Chubb Classic at Naples in Florida.

I first came in journalistic contact with Darren in the early 1990s when he began winning on the then named European Tour and I was getting myself into the deep end of my own career, filing golf copy to three Irish newspapers – the Irish Independent, the Irish Star and Irish Examiner.

However, we kind of lost contact as Clarke had turned 50 and was on the Champions Tour while there was also the after affects of the COVID lockdown period and the start of the downturn in the worth of newspapers.

Yes, this long overdue chat with Darren was off to a superb footing.

Of course, Darren being Darren there was initially: “Now what do you want Bernie?  C’mon Bernie?  I’ll give you two minutes, Bernie.  Okay, Bernie?”

In fairness to Darren as I’ve been annoying him for ages, so we do go back a long way.

I caught-up with Darren on the Tiburon range following his luncheon break and waited till he had finished, and then followed him back to the clubhouse.

We found a cosy little corner and where two minutes turned into a rewarded 12-minute chat with ‘Dazza’.

I asked him about his life in the over-50s brigade and whether he thought Luke Donald should lead Europe into competition at Adare Manor while there was the must ask question on his enormous delight and pride in what Rory McIlroy has achieved in the game.

As well, we spoke of how much Clarke looks forward to the return of his good friend Tiger Woods back inside the competition ropes.

Please enjoy hereunder Part 1 of my chat with Darren Clarke.

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It was May 2005 and Darren Clarke was acting as the tournament host for the Daily Telegraph British Masters at the Forrest of Arden course lying around halfway between the famed English towns of Birmingham and Coventry, to the north of London.

Among those competing was two players listed in the very last entry category and that being category 99 – 99 though the categories went 1 to 11 and then bizarrely jumped to 99 – 99.

One of Scotland’s Jordan Findlay while the other was Rory McIlroy.

It was the recently-turned 16-year-old McIlroy’s maiden DP World Tour appearance though it was hardly a showing that had ‘Future Grand Slam Champion’ stamped all over it.  In fact, McIlroy produced horror rounds of 82 and 81 that included a combined seven birdies, 10 bogeys, seven double-bogeys and a triple bogey and easily missing the five-over halfway cut by 14 strokes, and three shots off last place at 19-over.

Over two years later, McIlroy turned pro straight after the 2007 Walker Cup at Royal Country and then around a month further on, and in what was only his third DP World Tour start, McIlroy posted a final round 68 to be lying third at 15-under-par in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews.

Having handed in his card, McIlroy then made his way to the back of the 18th green on the Old Course at St. Andrews to watch Scot Paul Lawrie putt-out, as Lawrie was lying fourth at 14-under and a closing birdie would tie him for third with Mcllroy.

As McIlroy stood beside fellow Walker Cup team-mate Lloyd Saltman and myself, he remarked: “If Lawrie misses this putt, that’s my Tour card”.

Lawrie missed his birdie putt to finish tied fourth whereas McIlroy earned a cool Euro 211,000 prize cheque, enough to secure his full 2018 DP World Tour membership status in only three 2017 events.

Also contesting the tournament was Clarke but he’d missed the third-round cut.

It was at the Naples event where I sat with Clarke and reminded him of that 2005 British Masters tournament and his reaction to the now 36-year-old Grand Slam winning golfer.

“As I look back to that British Masters, I can recall vividly getting Rory organised to tee-up in the event, and to now sit here looking back on what he has achieved, and also being a fellow Northern Irishman, I am incredibly proud”, said Clarke.

“I think what Rory has achieved in golfing terms Transends our sport and how he became only the sixth person in the history of golf to win the Grand Slam.

“Also, for player from a small country like Northern Ireland to do that is incredible.

“I could not have forecasted when as a very young golfer he joined my foundation that he would grow into a superstar golfer but then studies showed even when Rory was aged around 10-years old he was off the charts.

“It was ridiculous what they were projecting for Rory.  He was always going to be a superstar golfer, and when it came to predictions and how far he would actually progress was always off the charts.

“With the talent he enjoyed it was always going to be down to him and his hard work while his dedication has seen him achieve everything he sought to achieve in the game.

Bernie with Darren Clarke at the 2026 Chubb Classic. Image @TOURMISS

“You know, it’s simply brilliant what’s he been able to do”.

Darren, so where you rate Rory say when compared to Scottie Scheffler?

“As for the game of golf?  Rory’s not Scottie Scheffler and while Scottie is World No. 1 and also is an incredible player and rightly so given everything he has achieved in the game, Rory is a little bit more like Seve,” Clarke said.

“Rory has those Seve traits like a fire in the belly and he shows it.

“Rory’s life is also under the spotlight everywhere he goes but then Rory conducts himself in an unbelievable well.

“So, I would say I am both proud and fortunate to have known Rory from those early days of his career and while not being a part of it but to have been able to watch his progression to where he’s at now, has just been brilliant.

“He’s such a wonderful golfer and such a wonderful human being”.

Darren? What part has Shane Lowry played in Rory’s present stature?

“You really cannot be speaking about Rory without taking a look at Shane and admire also what he’s also achieved in the game,” Clarke said.

“As well, you must admire Shane for the manner he’s also help encourage Rory.

“To see Irish golf with Rory and Shane up there showing the way is just brilliant for the game in Ireland while I am forever delighted they each came through my foundation.

“It’s just been so satisfying and highly rewarding”.

Trust, you enjoyed this story and, if so, please stay tuned for part two when Darren shares his views if fellow European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald should stay onboard to lead Europe next year at Adare Manor.

 

 



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