The numbers tell the remarkable story of Darren Clarke’s improbable run to glory at the 140th Open Championship. The affable Northern Irishman claimed the Claret Jug:

  • Five years removed from the death of wife Heather from breast cancer
  • On his 20th appearance in the Open, breaking Nick Price’s record of winning for the first time on the 15th attempt
  • At age 42, and
  • A full 10 years since his last top-10 finish in a major

Clarke’s resounding, three-shot victory over Americans Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson was a credit to his perseverance, certainly, but also an attitude and game perfectly suited to the dreadful weather and quirky links of Royal St. George’s.

After rounds of 68-68-69 (-5), Clarke entered the final round one shot clear of Johnson, with a host of others lurking within five strokes. Their ranks included Mickelson, four times a major champion but only once before a contender at the Open.

Mickelson quickly announced himself as the biggest threat to Clarke. Birdies at the second, fourth and sixth pushed him to 3-under and set the stage for an electrifying eagle at the par-5 seventh. Suddenly tied for the lead, Mickelson kept up the pace with a birdie on No. 10 to move to -6.

Undaunted, Clarke answered with his own eagle at seven to reclaim the lead. When Mickelson missed a short par putt on 11, it marked the first of four back-nine bogies that ended the left-handers chances.

Johnson, paired with Clarke in the final group, made amends for two early bogies with three birdies in a six-hole stretch. Two shots back and within reach of the par-5 14th green, Johnson fanned a long iron out-of-bounds right. The resulting double-bogey proved his undoing.

Meanwhile, Clarke continued ripping penetrating drives and thigh-high iron shots through the wind and rain, as he had all week. His putter answered the bell Sunday, when Clarke drained lengthy par putts on the first and third to maintain his edge.

Clarke’s victory added to the amazing recent run by golfers from Northern Ireland (population 1.8 million); his countrymen Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell claimed the last two U.S. Opens. England’s finest, on the other hand, headed home for the weekend. World Nos. 1 and 2 – Luke Donald and Lee Westwood – missed the cut.

Clarke dedicated the win to his two sons and his late wife, saying, “There’s obviously somebody who is watching down from above there, and I know she’d be very proud of me. She’s probably saying, ‘I told you so.’”

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