Darren Clarke has brought another major championship home for Northern Ireland. Clarke outlasted the rest of the field to win the 2011 British Open at Royal St. George’s golf club in Sandwich, England.
Dustin Johnson remained in contention throughout the final round, as did Phil Mickelson. However, Clarke’s three straight rounds in the 60s and a par 70 in the final round lifted him to a comfortable three-stroke victory over both Americans that were trying to chase him down.
Clarke won with a 5-under 275, following the path of younger countrymen Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell as a major champion. They won the last two U.S. Opens. Northern Ireland is well known for its golf, however nobody could have expected this. It had been a decade since Clarke was a serious contender in a Grand Slam event, and the one-time face of Northern Ireland golf was thought to be long past his prime.
While this is amazing news for Clarke and all of Northern Ireland, Dustin Johnson’s struggles in the final rounds of tournaments continue to linger with him. The round one leader and contender throughout the weekend was within two strokes of the lead when he made a huge blunder, knocking an iron shot out of bounds from the 14th fairway. He wound taking a double-bogey that ended his chances at he British Open title.
Johnson settled for a 72, leaving him tied with Mickelson at 278. Last year, Johnson threw away a lead at the U.S. Open with a closing 82, and he will forever be remembered for taking a two-stroke penalty of the 72nd hole of the PGA Championship to miss out on a playoff.
Congratulations to Darren Clarke for winning the 2011 British Open.