Topic: Darren Clarke

Darren Christopher Clarke (born 14 August 1968) is a professional golfer from Northern Ireland who currently plays on the European Tour and has previously played on the PGA Tour. He has won 22 tournaments worldwide on a number of golf's main tours including the European Tour, the PGA Tour, the Sunshine Tour and the Japan Golf Tour. His most notable win came at Royal St George's where he won the 2011 Open Championship, his first major win after more than 20 years and 54 attempts. Clarke has also won two World Golf Championship events, most notably the 2000 WGC-Andersen Consulting Match Play Championship where he squared off with, and defeated, Tiger Woods. These victories came when Clarke enjoyed his most prominent spell as a golfer – he was ranked in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings for 43 weeks between 2000 and 2002. His highest finish on the European Tour money list is second, which he achieved in 1998, 2000 and 2003. Clarke is currently ranked as the sixth highest career money winner on the European Tour.

Clarke has represented Ireland as both an amateur and as a professional, notably at the World Cup and Alfred Dunhill Cup, and was a member of five consecutive European Ryder Cup teams between 1997 to 2006.

Clarke's victory at the 2011 Open Championship meant he became the third major winner from Northern Ireland in 13 months, following Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy's 2010 and 2011 victories in the U.S. Open, prompting McIlroy to quip that Northern Ireland was the 'Golf Capital of the World'.