Darren Clarke described being presented with an OBE as an experience to equal winning The Open and competing in the Ryder Cup.

The 2011 Open Champion attended Buckingham Palace in the company of his wife, Allison and sons Tyrone and Conor where he was presented with the OBE by Queen Elizabeth 11.

Darren Clarke with his wife, Allison and two sons visiting Buckingham Palace to be awarded an OBE

Clarke appeared thrilled with his honour and said he was delighted to  be able to share the moment with his family.

Referring to his first wife Heather, who lost her fight with breast cancer in  2006, he said: “She would have been proud of me but more proud of the kids than me, sitting in there and seeing the Queen.”

Clarke, who was joined at the ceremony by popstar Gary Barlow and actress  Kate Winslet, admitted that meeting the Queen was more “nerve-racking” than  playing in a major tournament.

“It is right up there, but the Open and Ryder Cup were much easier than  this,” said Clarke.

Clarke, who displayed one of the greatest performances in the history of the  Ryder Cup at the K Club near Dublin just six weeks after Heather’s death, said  it was a “great honour” to meet the Queen.

“She asked me about the golf and the charity things as well,” he said.

The golfer set up the Darren Clarke Foundation in his first wife’s memory  after her death.

The 44-year-old, who won his first Major at the Open Championship in Royal St  George’s in Kent in July 2011, posted a photograph of himself with the Queen on  Twitter.

He said: “Her Majesty presenting me with the OBE”.

Earlier he tweeted: “A very proud day at Buckingham Palace with Alison,  Tyrone and Conor meeting the Queen and receiving my OBE.”

It’s reported Clarke was congratulated on his OBE by a number of well-known sportsmen,  including fellow Northern Irish golfer Graeme McDowell, rugby star Danny  Cipriani and footballer Robbie Fowler.