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Clarke gives Open medal to Portrush

Golf: Darren Clarke today presented his winning British Open championship medal to Royal Portrush Golf Club

Darren Clarke at home in Portrush with his sons, Tyrone (12) and Conor (10) and the Claret Jug. Photograph: Darren Kidd/Inpho/Presseye
Darren Clarke at home in Portrush with his sons, Tyrone (12) and Conor (10) and the Claret Jug. Photograph: Darren Kidd/Inpho/Presseye
Tue Jul 19 2011 - 01:00

Golf:Darren Clarke today presented his winning British Open championship medal to Royal Portrush Golf Club. Golf's latest Major champion also re-iterated his belief that the renowned Antrim venue would be able to host the Open.

Clarke gave his gold medal to club captain Philip Tweedie at a special homecoming ceremony on Northern Ireland’s north coast today.

Almost 1,000 people crowded outside the clubhouse for Clarke’s arrival at his home course where he practised before triumphing at Royal St George’s, Sandwich, Kent on Sunday.

The medal will go on display in a cabinet which already holds the one won by Fred Daly, who took the Open at Royal Liverpool in 1947. He was also a member of Royal Portrush.

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Of the Open coming to Northern Ireland, Clarke believes Portrush could be an ideal venue. The province has produced three Major winners in the last 13 months, with Clarke joining Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy.

The 42-year-old feels his adopted home course would be ideal if the Royal and Ancient Club (R&A) were to look to capitalise on the current enthusiasm for the game in the country.

R&A chief executive Peter Dawson has said the body will need to look at the infrastructure, commercial opportunities and potential security risks of taking the Open to Portrush for the first time since 1951.

But Clarke told a press conference today: “There is a lot of momentum behind it and this course is fit to host any tournament. Logistics are tough when it comes to staging Majors like the Open, or the Irish Open.

“But, if the R&A look at it, we play at Royal Lytham, which is a smaller acreage than here, and hopefully they can reassess. With us doing so well it would be great to see us get a Major championship here.”

He paid tribute to Royal Portrush, saying: “I have been fortunate enough to have played around the world but, living in Portrush, this is the best course in the world and I am privileged to give them the medal so people can come into the club and see it.

“It maybe would have ended up in a drawer at home so I am glad people can come here and see it.”

“I moved back home in July last year with my boys and to come and practice here in that tough weather definitely helped my preparation for Royal St George’s.”