Sandwich, England, United Kingdom (AHN Sports)

For 19 years Darren Clarke tried and failed to win the Claret Jug, the iconic trophy for the Open Championship.

On Sunday at Royal St. George's amidst the strong winds, piercing rain and challenges from Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, Clarke poured his heart and soul into his golf shots and at day's end, wrapped his big Irish arms around that coveted prize.

Clarke won the 140th Open Championship with skillful shots and most of all, with clutch putts, putts he failed to make on Saturday. Over the final 18 he holed important putts over and over, one after another as he held off challenges from Phil Mickelson early then Dustin Johnson late.

The one-time bartender from Belfast started the final round a shot in front of Johnson but two groups ahead of him, Mickelson was having a magical stretch on the front nine. At the par five seventh, Mickelson holed a 30-foot eagle putt and he'd shoot 30 going out to get to five-under to tie Clarke for the lead.

Clarke's putter failed him in the third round but it came through when he needed it most. At the first hole, he left a 50-footer 12 feet short and he made it for that all important first par.

It would set the tone for his day as time and again he made three and four-footers for pars, important short putts that tormented him the day before.

Clarke responded to Mickelson's eagle with an eagle of his own at the seventh when he reached the green in two and canned it from 20 feet to get to seven-under.

Mickelson added another birdie at 10 and he was six-under and threatening Clarke. Then as fast as he rose to the top, his downfall began. He missed a three-footer for par at 11 and momentum left him like a jilted lover. He bogeyed the 13th, 15th then three-putted at the par three 16th for yet another bogey to end his hopes.

When Mickelson faltered, Johnson then made his run at Clarke. Johnson birdied 10 and 12 to get within two of Clarke and kept the pressure on as both players were in the fairways with their drives at the par five 14th. It was then that Johnson hit the day's most shocking shot.

His second shot sailed out-of-bounds right and he'd end up with a double-bogey seven that spotted Clarke a four shot lead with four holes to play.

Pars at the 15th and 16th put Clarke in cruise control. He bogeyed 17 then took three to get down from the back fringe for another bogey at the 72nd hole but by then it was academic.

"It's like every kid wants four putts to win the Open Championship," he said as he recalled his magic moment.

He finished the day with an even par 70 and a championship-winning total of five-under par 275.

It was three better than Mickelson and Johnson, who finished in a tie for second. Mickelson's outgoing 30 was offset by that incoming 38 and a 68 on a day that started as something special for the big lefthander but ended in frustration as it has so many times before.

Johnson's 72 put him in there with Mickelson at 278. Thomas Bjorn, who saw the Claret Jug slip away here eight years ago, closed with a 71 and a solo fourth at 279.

Three more Americans, Rickie Fowler, Anthony Kim and Chad Campbell finished tied for fifth at 280, Campbell was the best of the three with a final round of 69, Kim had 70 and Fowler a 72.

The story of this championship was the play of Clarke, easily the steadiest and most skillful links player of the week.

His personal struggles showed him to be a man of extraordinary perseverence and heart. After losing his wife Heather to breast cancer five years ago, it has been a long road back for him personally and professionally.

"I've been through an awful lot," Clarke admitted."It really hasn't sunk in yet. I'm just an ordinary guy," he said humbly.

He became the third player from Northern Ireland in the last 13 months to capture a major. Ironically, he was a mentor and elder to the two previous champions -- U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell in 2010 and young Rory McIlroy, who won the U.S. Open last month.

Clarke, at age 42, made the most appearances of any previous Open champion -- 20 -- before getting his first.

"I've tried and I've tried and I've tried," he said. "I kept up the belief."

Who knew the 20th time would be a charm?

 

 

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