Golf:After achieving a lifelong dream of winning the British Open, Darren Clarke returns to action at this week's Irish Open in Killarney hoping for another quick success.
Clarke’s victory at Sandwich came 20 years after his debut in the championship, but his first attempt to lift the Irish Open goes back even further.
It was as a 21-year-old amateur in 1990 that the Northern Irishman made his maiden European Tour appearance at Portmarnock, making the cut before finishing 50th and 18 strokes behind winner Jose Maria Olazabal.
“I’ve been close on a number of occasions and never quite got the job done - a bit like in the Open you could say,” said Clarke. “It would be a hell of an achievement - a dream come true - to have the Open and Irish Open trophies on display back at home.
“It has already been an amazing month for me and to do the double would be unbelievable.”
Not that he would be the first to do it. At Killarney in 1992 Nick Faldo had the second of three successive victories in the Irish Open and a month later captured his third British Open title in six years.
Four years ago at Adare Manor Pádraig Harrington ended a 25-year wait for a home winner and two months later triumphed at Carnoustie for the first of his three Major titles.
Clarke has already won on home soil when he won the European Open at The K Club 10 years ago. Back then the only Irishman to win a Major was Fred Daly in the 1947 Open, but in between Harrington’s hat-trick and Clarke’s success were, of course, the back-to-back US Open victories of Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy.
All four compete this week, prompting Clarke to say that the scenes “could be like nothing we’ve seen before”.
Despite Irish golf being on an unprecedented high, however, the prize money has been cut in half to €1.5million following the withdrawal of telecommunications company 3, title sponsors for the previous three years.
That said there was some welcome news ahead of this week’s event with Heineken named as another official sponsor.
Heineken, who has a number of sponsorship partnerships with the European Tour, got involved with last year’s Irish Open.
“We are delighted with the opportunity to present Heineken at this prestigious sporting event. The Irish Open is respected throughout Europe by the professional golfers and spectators alike. The special ambiance of Killarney and its unique beauty will enhance the staging of the tournament,” said Walter Drenth, Marketing Director for Heineken Ireland.
James Finnigan, Sales and Marketing Executive for The European Tour, said: “The European Tour are pleased to once again get support from Heineken, this commitment to become an official sponsor of the Irish Open represents a significant coup for the tournament and the European Tour.
Heineken join Failte Ireland and other official sponsors; BMW, Genworth, The Europe Hotel, Liebherr and The Irish Examiner.
