Darren Clarke

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Darren Clarke
Personal Information
Birth 14 August 1968 (1968-08-14) (age 39)
Dungannon, Northern Ireland
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight 215 lb (98 kg)
Nationality Flag of Northern Ireland Northern Ireland
College Wake Forest University
Career
Turned Pro 1990
Current tour European Tour
Professional wins 18 (European Tour: 11, Other: 7)
Best Results in Major Championships
Masters T8: 1998
U.S. Open T10: 1999
British Open T2: 1997
PGA Championship T9: 2000

Darren Christopher Clarke (born 14 August 1968) is an Irish professional golfer from Northern Ireland who plays on both the PGA Tour and the European Tour. He was born in Dungannon, County Tyrone. He played college golf at Wake Forest University in the United States.

Clarke was ranked in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings for 43 weeks between 2000 and 2002.[1] The most prestigious titles he has won are the 2000 WGC-Andersen Consulting Match Play Championship when he defeated Tiger Woods in the final, and the 2003 WGC-NEC Invitational. His highest finish on the European Tour money list is second, which he achieved in 1998, 2000 and 2003. He has represented Ireland in the World Cup and Alfred Dunhill Cup and played for Europe on five consecutive Ryder Cup teams 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2006.

Clarke is represented by International Sports Management.

Contents

[edit] Private life

Clarke met his wife Heather in a nightclub in Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The couple had two sons, Tyrone (born 1998) and Conor (born 2001), and the family lived at Sunningdale, Berkshire. In 2005 and 2006 he missed several tournaments to care for his wife, who was diagnosed with both primary and, later, secondary breast cancer.

Heather Clarke died on Sunday August 13, 2006 at 39 years of age, in the Royal Marsden Hospital, London (the day before her husband's 38th birthday).

Clarke's friend, Paul McGinley immediately announced his own withdrawal from the PGA Championship starting in Medinah, Illinois on Thursday. In a statement McGinley said, "Our two families are very much intertwined, obviously me and Darren, but Heather and (McGinley's wife) Ali were the best of friends and our kids are in the same class at school. So it is a tough time for us all" [2] Clarke later made himself available for selection for the 2006 Ryder Cup. European captain Ian Woosnam chose him as one of his two wild cards and he contributed 3 points from 3 matches to Europe's victory.

Clarke is a keen cigar smoker, on and off the golf course, and has been reported to spend an estimated £25,000 per year on cigars.

Darren was the favourite to win the 2006 Sports Personality Of The year award, but was runner-up to Zara Phillips. Darren had previously stated he didn't want to win based on a sympathy vote concerning his wife's death.

[edit] Amateur wins

  • 1990 Spanish Amateur Open Championship, Irish Amateur Championship

[edit] European Tour wins (11)

[edit] PGA Tour wins (2)

[edit] Japan Golf Tour wins (4)

[edit] Challenge Tour wins (1)

  • 2003 Benmore Developments Northern Ireland Masters

[edit] Other wins (2)

  • 1992 Ulster Professional Championship
  • 1994 Irish National PGA Championship

[edit] Results in major championships

Tournament 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Masters Tournament DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T8 CUT
U.S. Open DNP DNP DNP CUT DNP CUT T43 T43 T10
The Open Championship T64 CUT T39 T38 T31 T11 T2 CUT T30
PGA Championship DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT DNP CUT
Tournament 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Masters Tournament T40 24 T20 T28 CUT T17 T22 CUT DNP
U.S. Open T53 T30 T24 T42 CUT DNP 56 DNP
The Open Championship T7 T3 T37 T59 T11 T15 CUT CUT
PGA Championship T9 CUT CUT CUT T13 CUT DNP T42

DNP = did not play
CUT = missed the half way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place.
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.

[edit] Results in World Golf Championship events

Tournament 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Accenture Match Play Championship R64 1 DNP R64 QF 3 R64 R64 R64
CA Championship T40 T17 NT1 63 T38 T4 DNP T26 DNP
Bridgestone Invitational T36 T17 3 T19 1 T14 T28 WD T67

1Cancelled due to 9/11
DNP = Did not play
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = tied
WD = withdrew
NT = No Tournament
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.

[edit] Professional team appearances

  • Ryder Cup (representing Europe): 1997 (winners), 1999, 2002 (winners), 2004 (winners), 2006 (winners)

R.C. Record: 20 matches, 11.5 points (58% Point Percentage); All Formats: 10-7-3 (10 wins, 7 losses, 3 halves); Singles: 1-2-2; Foursomes: 3-3-0; Fourballs: 6-2-1;

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[edit] References

  1. ^ 69 Players Who Have Reached The Top-10 In World Ranking
  2. ^ "Clarke left to mourn wife's death", BBC News, 2006-08-13. 

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

v • d • e
2004 European Ryder Cup Squad
v • d • e
2006 European Ryder Cup Squad