Sport is a wonderful, scintillating and inspiring thing. And it’s made even more so when the ‘good guy’ comes up trumps. In 2006, Darren Clarke not only won the hearts of golf and sports fans; he managed to touch anyone with an ounce of emotion in their body. Just six weeks after the tragic death of his wife Heather, Clarke went out and played in Europe’s Ryder Cup team. He won three out of three points and was crucial in helping Europe secure victory. Clarke was a hero that weekend.
It was no surprise, then, that sport fans everywhere began to stir with excitement when the Ulsterman began to climb the leader board at Royal St Georges this past weekend. I don’t believe there was a single person who watches golf – anywhere in the world – who wasn’t hopeful that he could maintain his lead on the final day. And anyone who doubts the power of positive thought had a case to answer when Clarke bounced out of and over two of the course’s nastiest bunkers during his final round. Luck? Maybe. But I like to think that the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of fans around the world willing the ball to find the fairway had something to do with it.
Clarke finished the competition three shots clear and sealed his place in the hearts of the UK, golf fans world-wide and Northern Irish folklore. Darren Clarke, you are the classiest of acts and an inspiration to all. I tip my cap sir.
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